I posted previously about Mary Lynn Buchanan's video tour through the Venice Biennale, and in the video posted above, she continues to share more art from the 2022 Venice Biennale with us. The video features many different artists from many different backgrounds, but today I will be focusing on Simone Leigh. We discussed some of Simone Leigh's work in our art history class and I found it to be really interesting, and this video lets us see a little bit more of her work.
Simone Leigh is an American artist that was chosen to represent the our country at the United States Pavilion. Simone Leigh primarily makes work out of clay and is often associated with African art. The picture featured above, titled Facade, shows the transformation Simone Leigh created for the United States Pavilion. Prior to this transformation, the building followed a neoclassical style. Simone Leigh has transformed it by adding thatched roof, steel, and wood, common elements found in African culture. Simone Leigh's exhibition is titled Sovereignty, and revolves around self-determination and independence from the authority of another. The transformation shown above I think demonstrates that well; as many cultural traditions and groups of people have been forgotten through colonization in the United States. Other histories have been ignored, and Facade reintroduces these cultural styles and traditions.
I couldn't find the name for this sculpture pictured above, but I found it to be a really intriguing piece. For one, the scale is impressive and it is modeled very beautifully. The way the braids of the figure fall to the sides of her face is really pleasing to look at and relates to African art style. What I find interesting is that the figure has no eyes. I like to think about the meaning behind the lack of eyes, and I wonder if it is meant to represent a lack of identity through their cultural and artistic traditions being forgotten about in our society. I also wonder if the lack of eyes may signify some kind of unity, or togetherness, in the sense that community and culture outlasts a single individual. I think these are really interesting themes to think about, and makes me enjoy this piece.
I'm happy Mary Lynn Buchanan has made the work of these artists accessible for those who were unable to visit the Venice Biennale. It's nice to be able to learn about these works by watching her videos. Hopefully one day I can travel to see it myself, in person!
Hi Madison, I remember Simone Leigh from class as well. She transformed the American Pavilion with raffia and female body parts to express colonialization and a sense of identity and belonging. Simone presents contemporary values by visiting the past and bringing it to the present. I think is a way to rewrite history because if there's no past, one is valid.
"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" HBO Documentary, Laura Poitras (1hr 57 mins) This weekend I watched the 2022 Documentary about Nan Goldin titled "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed." Produced and directed by Laura Poitras, the film follows the life and work of Nan Goldin, and her activism in the Opioid epidemic. The film is emotional and thought provoking as Nan Goldin shares openly and honestly about her life from childhood through to the present, as well as the struggles faced by many during the AIDS crisis and opioid epidemic. Nan Goldin, Buzz and Nan at the Afterhours, New York City, 1980, Silver dye bleach print Nan Goldin, Nan and Dickie in the York Motel, New Jersey, 1980, silver dye bleach print Nan Goldin shares in the film about the struggles within her family and with losing her sister to suicide at a young age, and that the most important relationships to her were her friends. As such, her photographs capture the lives, situations, and personalitie...
!Women Art Revolution - Lynn Hershman Leeson (1hr 22min) Lynn Hershman Leeson's film "!Women Art Revolution" examines the feminist art movement from the 1960's through the twenty first century. With countless videos, photographs, and interviews from artists, the film highlights the struggles and successes of women artists of the feminist art movement. The feminist art movement was formed as a response to the belief that women artists did not have a place in the art world. Lynn Hershman Leeson discusses being rejected by museums on the account that her work "wasn't art" and that she had no place there. Buyers rescinded offers on her art after learning the art was created by a woman. Today, she has sold her art for 9,000x the original price. The feminist art movement created change that allows women to exist and succeed in the industry today. The Woman's Building, Los Angelos Artists in the movement created performances, artwork, and institutions ...
(30min) This video features Mary Lynn Buchanan walking us through parts of the 2022 Venice Biennale. The Venice Biennale is held once a year in Venice, Italy and features cultural exhibits from artists all over the world. Mary Lynn Buchanan starts off by walking us through the Central Pavilion, which features artwork from over 200 artists from 58 countries. The Central Pavilion has a different theme every year and the theme for 2022 was titled "Milk of Dreams." It is inspired by the book by Leonara Carrington "in which the surrealist artist describes a magical world where life is consistently re-envisioned through the prism of the imagination.” The curator of the exhibit, Cecilia Alemani, chose three themes of focus for the exhibits: “representation of bodies and their metamorphosis,” “relationship between individuals and technologies,” and “connection between bodies and the earth.” The Milk of Dreams, Curated by Cecilia Alemani, The 59th Venice Biennale, Venice, ...
Hi Madison, I remember Simone Leigh from class as well. She transformed the American Pavilion with raffia and female body parts to express colonialization and a sense of identity and belonging. Simone presents contemporary values by visiting the past and bringing it to the present. I think is a way to rewrite history because if there's no past, one is valid.
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