The Wisconsin Union is hosting a new set of art galleries starting Friday, Dec. 5. Of note is the fact that these galleries are a collection mostly comprised of installations. Artists such as Madisonians Dr. Hongdi Liu and University of Wisconsin lecturer Susan Johnson White are featured, giving the show a local flavor. In addition, the collection will feature student art from their “permanent collection.”
The Badger Herald spoke with Nicole Rodriguez, a gallery assistant for the Wisconsin Union, who explained what an installation is, especially considering these are different from average exhibitions experienced by museum-goers.
“An installation is usually a work that activates the space around it,” Rodriguez said. “It usually interacts with the body, and you’re forced to walk around it. You’re forced to engage it as if it were your own.”
The Union’s new galleries are “anthropologically-oriented,” which means they are focused on “things that have human traces” and display “the human condition that’s withering away.”
Rodriguez asserted, “You’re supposed to walk in and think, ‘I could have these things but they definitely look like they’ve just been excavated from an anthropological site.’ There are traces of humanness.” She goes on to state the pieces “aren’t really aesthetic, more like D.N.A.” and that “there are literally traces of people on the wall.”
So what can a potential attendee anticipate at this show?
“There’s a lot of hype about this particular installation,” she said. “We sent out a lot of messages on Facebook, so we’re expecting a lot of people.”
Rodriguez also explained why Madisonians should be interested in this show.
“This is definitely the most exciting show since I’ve been here. We haven’t had such interactive installations before, such large pieces. I just think that the concept of this is incredibly intriguing,” she said. “I’ve never seen any organic materials used in art galleries before. Usually it’s paintings on the wall or last year we had a humidifier on a pedestal or other material things, but never something so organic.”
One of the more remarkable installations in the collection is a piece called “Silent Waters” by Pritika Chowdhry, which is 101 cast feet posed in different positions.
“Originally [Chowdhry] wanted to flood the gallery with water so that it was coming out of the feet, but we can’t do that for obvious financial and insurance reasons,” Rodriguez said. “Instead, she’ll be playing an audio loop of water, and it’s the first time we’ve had audio as interactive media.”
With the new media aspects of the gallery, it becomes “more interactive and more educational,” according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also pointed out that people without an art background can enjoy the galleries.
“Without art history, you can enjoy it. Plus, [the collection] is just cool to look at.”
For those interested, the collection is spread across the second floor of the Wisconsin Union and the Lakefront at Langdon, as well.
“People can just walk through the various collections,” Rodriguez said. “There will be hors d’oeuvres and punch so people can just dialogue.”
And to those with light pocketbooks, admission is free.
“Early Winter Art Exhibitions” runs at the Wisconsin Union from Dec. 5 through Jan. 20, with an opening night reception from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, log on to www.union.wisc.edu/art.
