Rarely do we get the chance to stand in another’s shoes, and almost never do we get to see what they see.
When I first saw Dave Rainey’s video, it struck me as a profound commentary on interactions between visitors in the gallery. In the video Dave shares with us how he looks, what catches his eye. He follows skeins of color cascading downward. Then, a bending, warping edge leads the way. A field of crumpled texture dissolves into cracked paint, which fades into metallic lace. These are all personal discoveries, but they are shared with us on the screen. I wouldn’t have noticed them otherwise.
This is just what happens in the galleries. “Come, look at this … look what he used here … see what I found.” Look for yourself, then share, and see through someone else’s eyes as well.
El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa closes July 29.
One Comment
Not sure which I like best – Dave’s video or your commentary. Seeing through someone else’s eyes is indeed a rare and precious opportunity. Your reminder changed what I saw and pointed out some connections I had not made. Thanks. I enjoyed Anatsui’s work from my own perspective and mow even more with some of Dave’s.