https://artforchange.space/rootedindia
All the social disconnect has led to some creative responses as artists desire to remain connected and find new forums to display their work and engage in creative conversation with others. I was honored to participate in Art for Change’s recent and ongoing discussion of rootedness.
Since this is my first time participating in anything like this virtual exhibition, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Probably my favorite part was the Zoom chats leading up to the exhibition, where I got to meet and interact with artists from many corners of the world and engage with their pandemic experience through their art. The works shown are deeply personal.
Many of the participants are Indian nationals. As an American woman living in Austria, with many ongoing friendships in China, I was aware that different countries were experiencing the pandemic in different ways, but hearing these artists share their journeys through the loss and isolation of this last year showed me how much there really was that I didn’t understand about the experiences of each different people group. Even in writing that, I realize that is still too generalized; each person was alone in their story of loss and perseverance. And in that, paradoxically, we were all together.
Joseph Joyson
I especially appreciated Harman Taneja’s work on the cracks of her sidewalk as a stable, repetitive presence on the way to her studio during lockdown. Avani Bakaya’s Floating Structures, and Joseph Joyson’s embracing cocoons are also really interesting. As tensions have risen in response to fears and loss of control, I’ve sensed an upsurge in aggressive online communication. In this shattering and strained moment, I appreciate this project’s attempt to bring people together in an expression of empathy that stretches across national lines and belief systems.
Feel free to enjoy this work on https://artforchange.space/rootedindia for a limited time.