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| This image was not taken from any of Emmons' installations...but seems to represent the meditative and captive qualities her work possesses. |
Walking into the gallery space which held Carol Emmons' installation, 'Cosmogony 2.0' was like walking into a scene from Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter; only in that it felt magical, mystical, and totally unexplained. I wondered if I was supposed to solve this big life-size puzzle, with it's astro-signs on the wall and quotes about the beginning of time. Train cars (or tiny baby craddles?) were set on 4 different tracks filled to the brim with objects. Regardless of message, this installation (which is site-specific)made me feel some type of way...and there were emotions I couldn't entirely explain.
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| Surveying Desire XIII, 2004, Peninsula Art School (Fish Creek, WI) |
Although I didn't walk away with a full awareness of her motives, I do believe Emmons created a environment in which I meditated on my emotions, which is something Carol Emmons concerns herself with. In her artist statement, Emmons says that she juxtaposes rational and emotive to "dispute the popular notion that they are mutually exclusive " and attempts to focus on how they are "interwoven." After examining her artist website, I began to piece together what I had seen and appreciated the obscurity of it all. Cosmos and heavens, youth and many years, light and darkness, all combined into an installation where one couldn't help but feel something strong.
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I had a very similar experience with the installation. It looked like a bunch of symbols I was supposed to decode. Her website, along with her talk, really helped me understand the art. How she talked about her art was engaging and informative, but not too heady. I also enjoyed how she attempts to get across the blending of rationality and emotionality, and that they are not mutually exclusive. I agree that the installation provoked strong feelings, and the talk is what helped evoke strong thoughts. It's too bad everyone who sees the art can't hear the talk she gave.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you put it "obscurity of it all", and I think that was the exact point too. the installation were definitely strong and successful as art works, and on a personal level I appreciated it too! It's thought provoking!
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