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| ABOUT TRaC |
Fast TRaC Spring 2005
New Museum-East Village USA Review More than just a collection of works made during the same period, East Village USA at the New Museum captures a community in a dynamic era. The nature of the exhibit and of the art itself combine to give viewers a taste of life in this neighborhood during the 1980s. This lifestyle was fired by loudly voiced ideas and the public display of the taboo. In many cases the art exhibited seems directly spewed from within the artist. Because of this intimacy, artists are characterized by the show, giving museum visitors the illusion of Basquiat and Haring themselves exchanging ideas from across the room. While some better known artists such as these may provide initial attraction, through gritty themes and glitzy presentation other pieces command attention as well. The unguarded emotion of the times emanates from every wall as intense splashes of color, particularly of the graffiti movement, snatch viewers' attention. While often introspective, much of the subject matter addresses social and political concerns as well. Painters like Martin Wong and Stephen Lack capture a variety of issues endemic to the area. Beyond conceptual, their work also depicts a physical view of the city. Also captured is the cultural identity of the East Village, as represented by artists such as Richard Kern in his Sonic Youth music video. Because these various aspects of East Village life are represented, viewers experience a time warp immersion into the culture. A well-chosen compilation, much of the show's impact derives from the interaction of the works included. The evolution of different styles and a network of influences can be easily followed due to the chronological arrangement. A balanced mix of different media also contributes to the immersion approach, combining paintings, photography, sculpture, film and video within the several rooms. Performance art is conveniently located in separate rooms, although not devoted the same clarity of display as the hanging art and sculpture that it certainly merits. Although many of the pieces on display were made to serve as the voice of their creator, a well-informed and engaging guide can effectively fill in the gaps of this visual history. Background knowledge so enlivens the art that written information, either to explain the exhibit as it is seen in the museum or to be taken home to enhance the memory, would add further depth to the experience. However, with or without previous knowledge, the show is relatable in its expression of pure, timeless emotion. East Village artists defied traditional technique and the tendency of formal art to subdue its message, urging its viewers to dissolve their boundaries. For many, the show is also capable of producing nostalgia and, for those less familiar, an introduction to the explosive energy of the East Village, USA.
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