Beacon: Dia

There were several pieces at the Beacon: Dia that made an impact on me, from Warhol's paintings, to the videos by Bruce Nauman, to the large steel installations by Richard Serra. One work that made a particular impact on me was the exhibit by Sol Lewitt. I had previous knowledge of Lewitt's work and was very excited to have the opportunity to view it first hand. His product was overwhelming and impressive to say the least. His application of pastel squares meticulously draw on the walls of the Dia looked more like subtle projections than graphite. His perfect lines were incredible, and without a doubt the most impressive part of each of the compositions. Lewitt's work has a unique style and sense of perfection from color theory and understanding of the line to his execution. Sol Lewitt's work is an inspiration to artists and truly a landmark in art history.

Parable of the Garden

One piece in the Parable of the Garden exhibit which made a particular impression on me was Simin Keramati's video, Earth. The imagery of a woman remaining perfectly calm and not reacting to a terrifying situation is very unsettling and stays with the viewer. I also feel that the video is powerful because it creates a reaction from the audience to want her to fight the sand. Her lack of resistance to a clearly dangerous and potentially fatal situation is a representation to a loss of hope and an acceptance to her place, be that in a society or her glass case. Her use of time is also a fundamental aspect to the piece. The wait and slow pace of the pouring is also symbolic of a lengthy period of time that she has been oppressed. Overall I believe that this video was a beautifully executed but erie experience to watch but it truly conveys a clear message to its spectator.

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