Alright-Knox reflection/visit

Szenina Russo

A.) Which artworks make an impact or impression on me? Why?

Nari Ward, Loisaidas LiquorsouL, 2011

Metal, Plexiglas, fluorescent sign, PVC pipe, artificial flowers, shoelaces, and shoe tips. 

This sign at first glance by Ward was encapsulating. I thought it was so strangely beautiful, the scale catches your eye along with the lightening and colors used in the lettering. This was impactful by the scale of the artwork hanging on the wall and the decoration that has been used. Once I read the wall text, it became much more impactful. Nari Ward will collect items from around and in his neighborhood of Harlem, New York. He is interested in showing themes and issues of race, gender, poverty, sex, immigration and other topics in his work. In 2010, the artist began to dismantle this Liquor sign that once hung outside of a store front, he realized that the word, ‘soul’ appeared in ‘liquors’. He then paired the word ‘LiquorsouL’ referring to the Lower East Siders of the city of New York. Artificial flowers, the top rounded part of shoes and shoelaces are hung on the side of the sign which is his way of bringing attention and bringing light to communities such as this one. He plays with the idea that anything could be made into art such as Marcel duChamp did. Finding out the meaning behind why an artist does what he does makes art so much more wonderful and appreciated in my eyes.

Sopheap Pich, Cycle, 2011Bamboo, wire and glue

This work of art is another large work of art that completely encapsulated my eye. Personally I love art that plays with form in an organic matter. I think that this form is interesting and creative in the way it follows across the wall and moves your eye. Pich was born during the Civil war breakout in Cambodia, he then fled to Thailand living in refugee camps with his family. Eventually he made it to the United States, his art now reflects common materials or natural resources that he once came across frequently living in Asia. He plays with the idea of cultural tradition and customs, I personally became fascinated with this piece. The ability to manipulate and make bamboo, wire and glue look so graceful and beautiful took my breath away. I also love to learn and understand artist from diverse cultures and the relation that it has to their art making. 

B.) Which artworks do I feel a connection with? Why?

Anselm Kiefer, der Morgenthou Plan, 2012

Acrylic, emulsion, oil, and shellac on photograph mounted on canvas 

As soon as I saw this work of art I couldn't help but to just stand there, it took up the entire wall practically. It seemed like it was trying to yell something at me. There was so much emotion and meaning in the textured, chunky paint applied to the canvas. It was so beautiful, but I knew right away there was some meaning behind the words in the top left hand corner. The landscape in inscribed with the proposal, “The Morgenthau Plan” after WWII, that was highly controversial. It was created by the US Secretary of the Treasure and was the purpose of the deindustrialization of Germany an the reintroduction to agriculture, many thought this would mean death for thousands. Kiefer represents nature and a reflection or changing subject that moves with people, keeps and tells history. This work is beautiful yet it holds emotion that just captivated me. 

 
Htein Lin, A Show of Hands, 2013, Plaster 

There is a bench right in front of this work of art, consisting of plastered hands propped up on a shelf. When you look at the hands on the shelf you begin to understand that they are different and are labeled by name, year and or other basic information. From 1998 to 2004 Lin has been documenting political prisoners jailed for military dictatorship in Myanmar. Hundreds of hands are shown with when and where they were imprisoned. This project of Lin continues to be an activist in the community to ‘raise a hand’ if one has ever been victimized or persecuted against human rights. The meaning of this art is so profound and when you are bale to look and understand that these are accurate representations of peoples hands it has an effect on you. It becomes real, it is although little pieces of people are there, and you have this minuscule but meaningful relationship with these molds. 

C.) Which artworks would I like to know more about? Why?

Subodh Gupta's This is not a fountain, 2011–13

 

This work of art was produced by an Indian man named Sudobh Gupta. I thought that the concept of all of this metal organized in the manner that it was in the center of the floor was just brilliant. There was water flowing in, out and around these metal pieces. I soon found out that these pots, pans and other cooking vessels were boxed, shipped and placed in the gallery by the artists from India. It is supposed to reflect poverty and the aspect of running water and how it means very different things to different cultures, people, genders and places around the world. There is a pool of water underneath the metal that is continuously circulating throughout the piece. I want to know more about this artist, his other work ad how he uses materials in diverse ways. I talked to the guard shortly after and he said that once he was done arranging the pots and pans he took the faculty in the AK Cafe and made authentic Indian food for everyone. I was very moved by the genuineness of that sentence, I want to know more about him as a person and an artist. 

Yuji Agematsu, zip:01.01.06. . . 06.30.06, 2006

Mix media in cellophane wrappers on a set of six wood-backed acrylic shelves  

Agematsu has collected items from the streets of New York City since 1997, and placed them in cellophane containers that are used to hold packages of cigarettes. Each composition is placed on a shelf according to the day and month. The objects that he found that day are organized little compositions that are so carefully, tastefully done. They take your eye throughout the piece and his ability to manipulate objects is almost incomprehensible. He plays with the idea of taking objects and changing there aesthetic, and documentation of time. The color, textures, movements and shapes are all little works of art. I would like to know more about his process, his personality and what drove him to begin doing this type of work.