KMAC Museum: Victory Over The Sun, Eclipse Art

Katherine McCadden

Contemporary Art-18728

Exhibition Review KMAC Museum

Barbara Kutis

9/23/17

Olafur Eliasson, Your Folded Sunset Behind a Black Hole (in corner), 2017

Victory Over The Sun, The Poetics and Politics of Eclipse

Victory Over The Sun, The Poetics and Politics of Eclipse was an upstairs large room gallery showcasing the magnificent eclipse that shadowed over a large part of Kentucky and a good part of Southern Indiana. Of this August 21, 2017 phenomenon this gallery showcased the awe of witnessing an eclipse in our generation's lifetime.

Every artists has their own way of depicting natural phenomenons of the Earth. One artists that work was viewed right as you enter the room was Lita Albuquerque’s own rendition of the eclipse. Named Fibonacci Lunar Activation, a series of numbers is used as a background ranging from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on. Viewing this work I didn’t quite understand the significance of the number system at first look but as I read and looked more the number system used is seen in geometry but not only in mathematics but also in architecture as “nature’s number system”. Displayed over these numbers is the eclipse at full peak, the moon covering the sun completely with a halo of light still showing through. Unifying nature, mathematics and the powerful depiction of what the cosmos are capable of.

The next installment directly across Fibonacci Lunar Activation is Your Folded Sunset Behind A Black Hole. This a personal favorite of mine, it caught my eye as I first walked into the gallery. Created by Olafur Eliasson, three pieces of glass are displayed in a corner of the gallery, an obsidian large oval is placed over a large horizontal piece of glass that has the texture of wood but is glossy and smooth, and lastly a large half moon mirror is wedged beside that smooth wood like textured glass. Made of blown glass, mirror and metal your reflection is seen from all angles conveying a depiction of a total solar eclipse.

Another artist displaying their work in this gallery is Barbara Takenga. Wine Dark With Stars is a traditional painting of the cosmos in a kaleidoscope view of swirling lines and shapes. This work is psychedelic to look at but in a beautiful way of showing the depth of the galaxy.

And lastly, Letitia Quesnberry’s work, Hyperspace no. 21 incorporates technology and how the way light, shadow and movement can affect a person, convey emotion. A minimalist and abstract piece shades of red green and blue are respectively placed in these light boxes as they slowly fade in and out, becoming brighter and darker as the minutes go by. It was as if the viewer was watching the eclipse all over again or watching the changing tones of the sky going from dusk to dawn. Just how the eclipse affected the people Kentucky and also people who were nowhere near the eclipse. The effects of the eclipse seen in person and on tv effected the entire nation as they watched this beautiful event happen in their lifetime.

These works of art are of the “now” era, 2017 of how powerful the Earth and galaxy are. The effects and renowned awe will last forever in our memory of the event. All the work showcased in this museum was all high quality, beautiful work exemplifying the Earth at it’s most amazing moment.