The first OAH assignment consisted of visiting the Parson’s gallery and analyzing a selected piece:
At first glance the objects on display in the gallery seem random and meaningless; however upon further inspection of each item, whether it be the hand sanitizer or the subway map, the sentimental meaning and value of the article in question becomes clear to the viewer. I was personally drawn to the ‘Pedestrian Patterns’ display for an array of reasons.
What makes this exhibit stand out from the rest is the fact that two different mediums were used to portray its theme. This piece caught my attention through the artists’ choice of digital media, utilizing form which I personally connect with. The compilation of footage gives the audience an array of viewpoints to truly experience the nonstop atmosphere of the areas under examination. The videos’ use of footage gathered from different areas along with the brightly colored hues used in the diagram of the station represent the hectic and busy mood of traffic in New York City. The choice to omit audio from the footage helps direct attention to the subject of the video as sound would pull focus away from it. However, it could be argued that including the audio that featured the “hustle and bustle” of the city might drive in the point of just how busy these areas are.
The piece itself was created to visualize flow patterns of pedestrian traffic in the city. This was successfully achieved as the bright hues used in diagram clearly depict the variety of erratic movement through the same area. What interests me about the piece is how it suggests that you leave a path behind you as you make your way through the city. That although you may not give the person walking beside you a second thought, there is no doubt that your paths have crossed on more than one occasion.
I find this piece intriguing as I come from a country where pedestrian traffic isn’t heavy. It resonates with my thoughts when I first moved into the city, showing how congested the walkways are.
Overall this piece is successful in presenting a clear and analytical view on pedestrian traffic patterns through its use of color and forms of media, accurately showing the viewer how congested the city is.
