- If a Tree Falls – Nick Caves
During individual gallery visit, I was especially drawn by one of the exhibitions but Nick Caves, If a Tree Falls. I was at first glance drawn to the visuals of the art works. Everything was floral and beautiful, and some pieces are grand and intricate. However, as I looked into more details, I started to realize more things which were happening in each piece of work, and made me reflect, and wonder what the artist wanted to express.
Many of his works are closely tied with race, discrimination, and slavery, which have always been some of the most sensitive topics to touch onto in the U.S history. Many of the figures and heads he carved out to show African features, some are dissected into just limps, torso, etc, and the motif of an eagle reoccurs again and again throughout the entire exhibition. Eagle is an explicit symbol for U.S. history and its political systems. “At times, these eagles appear to be attacking the heads in what at best might be an update of the Prometheus myth; at worst, they are merely predators. In other words, they stand vigilant over the scattered yet carefully arranged body parts.” Recalls from a writer and art critique, Alan Gilbert. This description perfectly sums up the issue the artist wants to express. The inequality of African American in U.S society.
2. Jibade-Khalil Huffman: Tempo
This gallery exhibits many individual video clips and sound installations created by Jibade-Khalil Huffman. “By dramatizing our relationship to culture, Huffman examines our affinities for black music, and our expectations for its potential as a tool of resistance.” says at the exhibition website. At first glance, the videos all seem to be telling different stories and very irregular. However, if observe close and long enough, then pull back to observe the whole exhibition, there is a unity in the expression of one topic, the appropriation of black culture, or at least that’s how I interpreted it. It examines the relationship between nowadays culture and people seeking some sort of justification by using black culture, which interests me very much.
3. Hell Has Everything by Seth Price
As I enter the exhibition, I was fascinated by the visuals of the artworks. Price’s artworks are perfect examples of the harmony happening between art and technology. Many of his artworks are digitally based, with various media collage on top, provides an insight into infinite possibilities with materials within artworks. One of the most captivating works in this exhibition is perhaps the squid skin video suspended from the ceiling. “To create the work’s bizarre imagery, Price utilized a robotic camera that spent hours roving across a squid’s skin in order to yield over ten thousand photographs, which were then processed through software designed for map-making and 3D cinema.” explain the gallery website. To come up with such a creative idea to express his artistic intentions was fascinating to me, and has aspired me to broaden my thoughts and creativity, think about the impossibles.
