Chasing Ideals : A Journey into Politics and Poetics
Year : 2021
Role : Individual
Tools : Adobe Photoshop, Rhino 3D, Adobe InDesign
Skills : Catalog Design, Experience Design, Curation, Exhibition Design
Instructor : Francesca Liuni
An exhibition on the shifting role of race and representation through contemporary art
Context
We rarely encounter times when history needs to be rewritten. Polychromy is one such topic that dates back centuries and uncovers the myth of whiteness in ancient sculpture and architecture. Leaps of progress availed by scientific methods proved the presence of pigments and traces of paint on Greco-Roman marble sculptures. The tone set by the influential writings of German art historian Johann Wincklemann established ideas of whiteness that are still deeply rooted in popular culture and our daily lives as an axiom. This myth of whiteness in classical sculpture has had profound and far-reaching consequences in terms of cultural perceptions, biases, and the reinforcement of Eurocentric ideals. However, ongoing efforts to debunk this myth and promote a more accurate understanding of the arts are essential for a more inclusive and equitable appreciation of human history and culture.
Project
The exhibition looks at shifting archetypes and portrayals through history chasing the lineage of beauty and perfection from ancient to contemporary art. The curated works for this exhibit at the Glyptothek are visual stimulus for the viewer to ponder about the past, present and future of the role of representation and race. The works of art seek to question the aftermath of the ideal white marble and our acceptance of desires through its gleaming white surfaces. The experience is a visually striking journey highlighting the use of white, which scientifically is the presence of all colors.
The Site
The Glyptothek, built in 1830 during Ludwig I of Bavaria’s reign, stands as an epitome to past times showcasing works from as early as 600 BCE.
Process
Curation, Catalog and Circulation
The original architect of the Glyptothek, Leo Von Klenze was one of the most prominent Greek Revival architects. His vision for this building was to build the ‘Athens on the Isar’ in Munich. He replicated the original temple’s Aphaia pediment, focusing on the creation of a Gesamtkunstwerk - a total work of art comprising landscape, architecture, sculpture and paintings adorned with the finest details.
The circulation of the planned exhibit engages the viewer starting from the landscape. A printed catalog book serves as a guide with history and information about the exhibition with sculptures like the Barberini Faun, East pediment from Temple of Aegina and other selected artworks are on display. The flow through the space initiates dialogue between the anachronistic works of art embracing man-made to mass-made.
‘Chasing Ideals’ serves as a platform for meaningful conversations at the intersection of art, memory, and diversity.
Glyptothek’s central courtyard is charged by ambient social commentary with an inflatable installation of Mnemosyne, the Greek Goddess of Muses and Memory. The collapsing and inflating sculpture serves as a reminder to transcend the myth of whiteness, inviting all to participate in the ongoing dialogue about the role of memory, race and representation in shaping our collective consciousness. This dynamic of inclusivity and public participation is recorded as an evolving gradient by visualizing real-time data on a curved screen in the courtyard.