WW11: eye of the storm gallery/Joyce Yu-Jean Lee's 'State of Dysunion' exhibit reaction (POST 2)

The gallery "WW11: eye of the storm" is a presentation of many magnificent art creations by nine selected artists who express their work by the elements of current environmental challenges, climate change policy and feminism. The art pieces in the gallery were indeed eye catching, as many questions occurred to mind. After reading the descriptions and with the presentation provided by Professor Cacoilo, the meaning behind the gallery became understandable.

"Re-appropriating Nature" (2018) and "Bonding with Plastic" (2018) - Olga Mercedes Bautista

Olga Mercedes Bautista created both of these pieces with the idea and interest in re-appropriating nature and how plastics have outgrown other man made materials. Being that these ideas were her interest and reason for creating the artworks, it can be seen that the concept of an environmental crisis was used in the process of the making. We live in a world were people do not care as much for recycling, litter all over the place and keep a lot of natures environment dirty. A great example of this can be comparing the oceans of New Jersey to perhaps the oceans of Florida. The oceans of New Jersey are filled with disgust and many objects that you would be surprised to see in dirty water that has not color to it. Whereas the oceans of Florida are clean and colorful to where a green and bluish color is presented.  In the photograph of "Re-appropriating Nature" Olga used old left over plastic material to create the bark of a tree that is left on the side of the ocean to represent the consumerism and materialism in today's society. A lot of plastics is misused by all individuals including myself. Instead of trying to reuse a water bottle that can be used for several occasions, most people just throw it into the garbage and not even a recycling bin where they actually belong. In page 15, of "Seeing Power" Nato Thompson said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." This quote fits perfectly with Olga's expression in her piece because she is literally trying to change the world by influencing others with her art work. By her being the artist she is and allowing her to feelings to be expressed into her work, it can possibly persuade others to follow the same steps and try to change the crisis that is in our environment. Another saying from page 7 by Thompson, "A fish sees water no better then we see the culture industry" In other words, a fish lives in a dirty environment which is the ocean for them, while people live in a cruel culture industry. The moral behind this quote is that the art work does not just have one meaning behind it being how the environment is in danger, it can have many meanings behind it, it all depends on how the viewers sees the art work. In this case, the cultural industry is not the greatest in the United States and it being compared to the oceans being so dirty.

Looking at Olga's "Bonding with Plastic" piece people would think that it is actual tree bark, and it is just not completely. For this creation Olga collected fallen tree barks and plastic bags to create a new form of tree bark that also included leaves and other plastic items. Her connection to this piece is in the area of an environmental crisis. It represents the same idea as "Re-appropriating Nature" on how left over plastic/plastic sold by consumers represent consumerism and materialism in today's society. I found it really interesting how she connected this piece to Hurricane Sandy because in that natural disaster many trees fell to the ground causing an environmental crisis. It makes perfect sense to relate it towards her work. During that time people came together to help one another because it was an incident that not many experienced before, it was a scary moment and not having electricity for almost 2 weeks was probably the worst part. In page 132 of "Seeing Power" Nato Thompson states, "We are influenced more by the people around us and the spaces we circulate through than we might have ever imagined." In other words, people come together when least expected under certain circumstances and when they do it is in a big way. In this case, an environmental crisis/natural disaster is what brought people together to help rebuild towns and schools, clean all trash around the areas, recycle more then often and combine supplies to be able to make sure everyone had food and water. The big idea here is that trying to fully erase all environmental crisis may be impossible, but if people put in the effort and come together to help like Olga has been doing throughout her art experiment and how everyone did during the aftermath of hurricane sandy, it is possible to help avoid and perhaps lower the chances of any harm being caused to our environment. 

"The Ark Project" (2018) Deborah Sperry

Deborah Sperry created this unique piece that I found to be a little strange at first glance. After reading the description it made more sense on what it really was. The story behind it is related to an environmental crisis, the effects of climate change. I found it amusing how the Sperry made her piece available to the viewers by giving them the choice of adding onto her creation. The choice to write on a piece of paper something that is wished to be saved from endangerment is given and adding it into the art piece. Allowing it to be the art of everyone that attends the exhibition and not just Deborah's. This gives more meaning behind it. In page 37 of "Seeing Power" Thompson mentioned, "When one feels free and empowered to act, one is able to change." In other words, if the liberty and power is given to an individual, the possibilities of acting in that form of action with that positive energy are endless. When a person is given the opportunity to act upon an issue such as saving the environment from danger, saying no to that opportunity would be rare and cruel decision. Most individuals would act towards trying to save what ever they can. All they need is a little motivation and a form of awakening from any kind, for instance Deborah's art work. Giving people the option to actually think about an environmental crisis that they would like to save and just having that thought inserted into your mind will be the awakening to act on the issue.

Joyce Yo-Jean Lee's exhibition was not like most common exhibitions. The digital effects and circular figure of the sheets that the projectors presented made the illusion stand out and definitely caught the viewers attention. Joyce described her piece as a reaction from her 2011 trip to the China Director of Residency program. This program is a program where artists travel around the world while having the time and space to practice their work. As an activist she created a media landscape. Her work comes from many research including the baidu.com source that she was introduced to in China, the google of Beijing. She describes herself as an installation artist and a person who is very political. In fact, when Donald Trump won the presidency campaign back in 2016, she was so discouraged that she got a tattoo because of it. Some of the digital pictures might be a little confusing to understand at first, but after her explanation it was confirmed that some of the footage was of Hilary Clinton winning a nomination and becoming the first women democrat candidate for a presidency election. Even a few pictures of Donald Trump winning his nominations were added as well. After the clarification you could see and understand most of the exhibition in a better perspective. The part that I found most interesting was the drone footage from the first women's march after Donald Trump was inaugurated into office. This shows a true meaning behind the piece as many individuals, especially females can relate to it because of Donald Trump being the slob and disgrace of a president that he is. Joyce used to be a painter, one of her reasons for becoming an installation artist was so people can gaze on artwork longer unlike paintings, who only average 8-11 seconds to be looked at.

The work in Joyce Yo-Jean Lee's exhibition "State of Disunion" does indeed challenge the big idea about the environment, consumption and human responsibility. Environment was not challenged as much as the others but in way was by the development of all the footage from the women's march after Trump was inaugurated into office. Not many people notice this, but after a huge event like this occurs a lot of trash is leftover in the scenery which involved the environment becoming dirty since not all of the trash can be fully collected. Consumption was challenged by the research and sources she used to develop this insulation piece. And human responsibility was the biggest topic challenged, her dedication and meaning behind the part of the piece was towards the power of women and their rights. She developed many interesting ideas and concepts that related to the human responsibilities such as sex, nationality, religion, and especially ethnicity.

Living in a world where notions of power and capitalism exist can be a difficult task because not many individuals are for these concepts. There are many ways that can help challenge these notions. Art may not be seen as one of them, but in fact can be a strong approach to challenge the notions of power and capitalism. In the article "Why art has the power to change the world" the artist Olafur Eliasson states, "Art does not show people what to do, yet engaging with a good work of art can connect you to your senses, body, and mind. It can make the world felt. And this felt feeling may spur thinking, engagement, and even action." In order words, art may not be able to fully stop the notions of power, but can awaken the mentality and actions that are needed to take cause into approaching the issue. Art is a spiritual and influential expression that is not just a pretty picture, but an expression that produces emotional power to individuals who truly understand the art work itself and art in general. Another interesting quote that relates to the notion of capitalism was found in the article "Challenging the Corpocracy: When Art Confronts Capitalism" stated by the artist Joshua Ikon, "In fascism, you knew you were being controlled, but not in this consumer society our very ignorance gives us the illusion of freedom." In other words, if there is any form of capitalism or a feeling of being controlled it may be obvious, but in a society where art exists falling into the art work and understanding the meaning behind it can give you the ability to feel free from the controlled system even if it may only be for the moment. A few years ago I went to an art show with fellow classmates in high school. The whole time I felt a dictatorship from my principal telling everyone what to do. The art work that was viewed was truly incredible and for that moment it made me forget I was in a field trip being told what to do. I felt the illusion as if I was apart of the art, even if it was for a little while.

All of these pieces present a powerful message, whether it is on an environmental crisis or the concepts of political and capitalist structure. What they all have in common is they touch on the issues of art, power, and activism. They all touch on activism by campaigning their art work to bring a political or social change into the world. As for power, all the art works have a message behind them that lead to giving the viewers the feeling of true power to help with the issues addressed by the artists. In page 129 Thompson states, "We make our own reality here." Relating this quote to the entire text above, people are the reason the world exist and they are the ones who make the world the way it is, whether is be in a political, cultural, or environmental way. The world is the way it is because of the people, even climate change. Global warming may not fully be caused by the people, but they definitely have a big impact in it. Power plant pollution and pollution of all kinds have a strong impact in the environment of global warming. So if the people are willing to cut down on certain items like pollution, making a better reality for the world can be achieved. The powers to act are endless and if the people strive for a better tomorrow, making the reality of a world where the issues of political, cultural, and environmental crisis are limited or possible erased can be accomplished.

Honorable Mentions 

                "Tumble and the Catacombs (I-XVI) Wendell Jeffrey 

  

"Climate Altars (Yemaya)" Sharon Lee De La Cruz

1,000 Square Feet (0.00701459%) Part 2 - Richard W. DeKorte Park, Meadowlands, NJ

 

Work Cited 

Eliasson, Olafur. “Why Art Has the Power to Change the World.” World Economic Forum, 18 Jan. 2016, www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/why-art-has-the-power-to-change-the-world/.

FIXCapitalism. “Challenging the Corpocracy: When Art Confronts Capitalism.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/fixcapitalism/challenging-the-corpocracy_b_8443474.html.

Thompson, Nato. Seeing Power: Art and Activism in the 21st Century. Melville House, 2015.