As always, you’ve introduced us to powerful art while weaving meaning and experience together to offer a perspective beyond just walking us through the exhibit. It is no small thing, and I’m always grateful for the illumination.
Thanks for this beautiful write-up of your experience, and your generosity in being vulnerable regarding your own, unique context when viewing the show. I didn't go see it—part of me wishes I had, but the louder part of me was pretty sure I wasn't in the right space for work like this. Looking at documentation photos and reading your words help me experience it from a slight remove—a more intellectual place. I don't think that's generally the best way to experience art, but sometimes it's the only way. And it's wonderful to know that though the exhibition is ephemeral, its ghost will live on in documentation.
Heather, thank you for reading and for such a thoughtful comment. The exhibition was hard and definitely the type of show that one needs to be in the right headspace for. I'm always a huge proponent of documentation because—as you well know—no matter how many people see an artist's show (even if the artist is mega famous), the vast majority of people throughout the world will end up engaging with that work through documentation. So many beautiful ghosts live on that way.
Beautiful and heartbreaking
I was so transformed by the experience. It was so powerful.
so timely that i have a catch in my throat. thank you!
I had a catch in my throat the whole time I was in the gallery. It was an incredible show.
As always, you’ve introduced us to powerful art while weaving meaning and experience together to offer a perspective beyond just walking us through the exhibit. It is no small thing, and I’m always grateful for the illumination.
Thank you! Artists like Sova make my job easy because the work is so evocative and transforming.
Such a moving write up. That last sentence! "Art does not exist in sterile white spaces. Artists make it so that we can take it with us." So true.
Thank you for reading. And for caring.
Thanks for this beautiful write-up of your experience, and your generosity in being vulnerable regarding your own, unique context when viewing the show. I didn't go see it—part of me wishes I had, but the louder part of me was pretty sure I wasn't in the right space for work like this. Looking at documentation photos and reading your words help me experience it from a slight remove—a more intellectual place. I don't think that's generally the best way to experience art, but sometimes it's the only way. And it's wonderful to know that though the exhibition is ephemeral, its ghost will live on in documentation.
Heather, thank you for reading and for such a thoughtful comment. The exhibition was hard and definitely the type of show that one needs to be in the right headspace for. I'm always a huge proponent of documentation because—as you well know—no matter how many people see an artist's show (even if the artist is mega famous), the vast majority of people throughout the world will end up engaging with that work through documentation. So many beautiful ghosts live on that way.