Stanford Arts Immersions

the experience economy

Discoursing with Raul de Nieves about his piece at the Whitney was a dream come true. It was incredible to be able to meet an established artist and to have the artist himself discuss his creative process was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I lean more towards Henry Taylor’s kind of flight. Gold wings on the ground, potentially taking off, decidedly aware of the dark weight of history. The flowers, too, beautiful and uprooted, capture the violence embedded in hopeful discourses on flight, progress, conquest of nature. These winged angels’ happy day is perhaps a walk in time.

But I wouldn’t have noticed Yi’s “ethnic” name and demanding work if I hadn’t previously seen her name in the 2016 Hugo Boss prize announcement. I keep having to remind myself of what directs, manipulates and excites my attention. It’s hard not to feel like a lot of what I’ve come to find beautiful and meaningful the result of largely chance and economy.

They’re by Julien Nguyen (b. 1990). I can’t find much information on the artist, and it makes me wonder about the hidden economics and network of relationships that brought this young talent to the Whitney biennale.

One of the works I liked the most at the Whitney Museum today were the banners hanging from the 6th and 1st floor roofs. In particular, I like the “STOP” banner on the left edge of the picture above. By taking a government sign/symbol and subverting it to communicate the intent of the artist, the artist is in many ways engaging in “tactics” as discussed earlier in class to subvert “strategy”. 

Thank you Garrett for lending me the reflection through your lens… one of my favorite pieces at the Whitney (second to Madani’s Shitty Disco). Hearing Raul de Nieves speak about the progression of his work was very admirable. In an exhibit crowded with paintings and live demonstrations embodying violence and its ramifications, I felt Raul’s piece brought back a lot of the sensitivity and remembrance surrounding loss and mortality. There is continuity to life… there is renewal.

One of the things I loved most about New York City was how wonderful things surprised me at every turn.

experiments and dialogues. who decides the story, and who can decide who decides the story?

In short (for I have twice tried to compose a more robust post and had Tumblr crash): Sweat is a much needed piece of representation for today’s “villains” of the liberal political rhetoric. However, the ending fell to the common mistake of catharsis, and the climax relied mostly on the tragedy of the circumstance rather than the perhaps unnecessarily long and repetitive buildup.

I’ll just friend request you.

The artwork reflects its creator. Raúl de Nieves discusses his own pieces with us at the Whitney Biennial–what an honor to hear him speak!

“Traveling at the speed of light and then At the same time I’m in the same spot too…” taken at the Studio Museum in Harlem

It’s cliche, but going to the Whitney today felt like a dream come true. I literally have dreamed about seeing some of this art. And some of this art seemed as if from a dream (or wonderful nightmare), like Raul’s costume pieces Somos Monstros.

I met this guy on the staircase of the Whitney, the legendary “Mayor of Meatpacking”.

#trisha #nycimmersion 

#trisha #nycimmersion