The Guggenheim Circular, the Guggenheim’s online exhibition, features Paul Ramírez Jonas’s Another Day as an addition to its “Time” module. This collection is centered around the fluidity of time that caused by the world’s current pandemic, forcing masses into isolation and dramatically altering routines of daily life. This unpredictability of time is reflected in Jonas’s piece, featuring three television screens that reflect a countdown to sunrise in ninety different cities. This contingency of time is reminiscent of departure times in airport and train stations, and evokes a sense of circularity. As a part of the mid-pandemic online exhibition, Jonas’s work Another Day, forces the audience to recollect moments of travel in which the wait to depart seemed endless. Now, in a time where most travel is at a halt, we look back on these times where we felt these in actuality short waits were long ones. What was arduous then is an eternity now. The work’s emphasis on geographical difference also alludes to the fact that regions across the globe may be at different stages of recovery but, in the end, we are all waiting for our “sunrise”.
Your writing is sophisticated yet clear, addressing the current contexts in relation to the exhibition and the work of Jonas. Connecting the artwork made in 2003 to the reality in 2020, the commentary initiates a valuable discussion regarding "time" that is especially relatable currently. I loved the reference to global travel especially as someone who is personally affected. However, I think the commentary would benefit from leaving audience more room for imagination and interpretation. I.e. how would someone who doesn't really travel pre-pandemic interpret the work? Overall, this commentary excels at its conciseness and direction. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI like this exhibition review. I think that introduce the online exhibition and the specific collection at the beginning is really great, thus people can get the feeling of this work. You use one clear sentence to explain what is in the work. Compare to the website, it is sample but still very clear and I think you can add the time when this work was made into the review that will be better. Then you have the artist’s thoughts in this work also you add some understandings about this work. You have clear summary and detailed analysis. I think it is a great reviews.
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