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Extra! Extra! See All About It!
Think New York- think flux of people. Think Times Square, think crossroads of east and west. Think commutation of Port Authority, think a transit of emotion of humans in and out to the world of projection.
They say perception is bigger than reality. In Big Apple it’s much bigger than reality. It becomes part of what we think, and ultimately what we manifest and become in the process. This artwork at the middle of Port Authority Terminal is a showcase of emotion and slideshow of ambition- between people, of what they aspire and what inspires them.
The city of dreams has been home to art and has been the breakthrough junction for artists and their revolutionary exposure and expression. Jamie Martinez and Will Kurtz have rationalized and created a wonder through the flight of their imaginations- encapsulating all within the economy of their whim and panache of abstract enunciation. Linking it all in their “An Inclusive World Project” where they exhibit the range of humans under the co-existence of all walks of life. These portrayed sculptures are wrapped in newspapers- representing the gossip waves of their times and how they became part of this transformation. Sustaining between opportunity and fear.
Extra! Extra! See all about it! Is all about the augmented depth of information hunger that gulps our cognitive realm. This timeless powerful play on the desire to ‘know beyond’ and “updated with the latest”, envelopes the incremental value that mass media- particularly print, holds on our imaginations. The need to stay connected and witnessing all four seasons in one day or beholding all the colors of spectrum- has improvised since last two centuries and in the new millennia with social media, we are touching the threshold of information bombardment.
The artworks elucidate how we embrace the nuances of modern life and how the cultural icons like Hillary, Pope, Trump and Caitlyn Jenner- evolved among the cut throat competition of metropolis lifestyle- as other creations such as dogs and squirrels become spectator companions- when we seek refuge as New Yorkers from a variety of social strata and societal fancies. The tug of war between survival and the fittest, leads through the strong arm of the law and the weak choice of crime to steal through limelight in a blink of an eye.
In short Jamie and Kurtz showcase exhibits way beyond the words can encompass and empower much more than eloquent can decipher in a single go. So as the daily commuters flash through their routes everyday- they gain a new meaning and perspective to the stories they hold in their heart- with the brand new visual representation of these newspaper sculptures. These are stereotypes and characters we meet every day. They lurk in our subconscious and they reveal their vitality as they become symbols of the society with mere signs, wake up calls, false alarms and friendly fires, as our energies surface through our souls- day in and out. You miss them all in a heartbeat of NY and in my eyes- it is a perfect manifestation of our times and can well be a representation of what this age was all about.
Last but definitely not the least- Vida Sabbaghi the curator, founder and director of this traveling exhibition must be congratulated on her wonderful achievement, vision and how she linked artistic medium with the mainstream media and culture. Few art forms actually make up to the limelight and it is because of visionaries like Sabbaghi- who actually broaden the scope of such endeavors with relevance and reception for the mass audience. Initiatives like such provide better incentive, reason and projection to artists to keep creating more and better. It stimulates their creative urge and binge- who look forward to keep realizing their fantasies into masterpieces just because they know, they have someone like Sabbaghi onboard to escort it to the world. As art without audience is merely a silent cry. Her unique way of presenting these artworks is definitely the reason of its progressive reception, welcome and warm response.
Looking forward to see “An Inclusive World Project” at more locations and it may keep traveling. It’s about the world- so the world must keep seeing it. It’s a reflection of society- so no reason to hold it.
EXTRA! EXTRA! SEE ALL ABOUT IT!
Curated by Vida Sabbaghi at Port Authority
Dec 3 – Jan 27th, 2016
Writing by Atif Ali Khan
AN INCLUSIVE WORLD
Jamie Martinez
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