Artist Rachel Rymont did not plan on spending part of her day inside a dark building when she visited Washington, D.C. But she changed her mind after taking one look at a new exhibit at the world-famous Smithsonian Institution. The exhibit can be seen at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. It is called "Senses of Time: Video and Film-based Works of Africa." "Senses of Time" is a video and film show that explores how people experience time. "It is a really different experience than being in a gallery or looking at a painting," said Rymont, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. "It kind of forces you to step back and co-exist with the piece instead of just glancing at it." Time is the main subject that connects all of the works, although the subject matter differs from work to work. The exhibit includes Yinka Shonibare's work "Un Ballo in Maschera." It is based on Giuseppe Verdi's 1859 operatic work, “A Masked Ball.” Shonibare’s piece questions the nature of time. In it, a leader, played by a woman, is killed. She then rises again and dances once more. Moataz Nasr's film, “The Water,” is very different from Shonibare’s colorful work. Nasr's film is in black and white. Faces appear in water on the ground, but before you, the viewer, can see any details, a foot steps on the image. Art and Politics Rachel Rymont liked how the exhibit was political, but did not try to teach about politics in an unwanted way. "A lot of time with political work, there's a tendency for things to get a bit cold or didactic, but that didn't happen in there," she said. "All of it was very moving, and it was very human." Perhaps the most openly political piece is Sammy Baloji's "Memoire.” It was filmed against a series of former copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Choreographer and dancer Faustin Linyekula does a dance, while speeches from some of the country's earlier and current leaders play. The piece shows how the reality of the present has not lived up to the promises of the past. Linyekula expresses this idea in a heartbreaking way by shouting, "Vive l'independence" (Long live independence) to nothing but silence. Other works tell of difficulties that political activists faced in the past. For example, Sue Williamson's work, called "There's Something I Must Tell You", shows six South African women from the generation of former President Nelson Mandela. The women talk about their experiences to their young relatives. In total, seven films are shown at the same time in the African art museum’s exhibit hall. The experience tests not only perceptions of time, but also ideas about what artists can accomplish with film. I’m John Russell. Rosie Brown wrote this report for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story exhibit – n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at gallery – n. a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc. choreographer – n. a person who decides how a dancer or group of dancers will move during a performance accomplish – v. to succeed in doing (something) viewer – n. someone who sees or watches something
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2c05oTo
via IFTTT
الاشتراك في:
تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)
المشاركات الشائعة
-
As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
-
Even in the world of medicine, what is old is new again. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water. Ancient Roma...
-
00:00:02 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it. 00:00:08 ...
-
Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed l...
-
Olayemi Samson is a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is turning plastic waste into useful things like clothing, school bags, car covers and shoes...
-
from Voice of America https://ift.tt/2JX5szY via IFTTT
-
Learn from your hosts, Anne and Jonathan the meaning of momentous. from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2yXS4 via IFTTT
-
An unpublished United Nations report says that North Korea sent materials that could be used in chemical weapons to Syria and missile techno...
-
South Korea’s government proposed on Monday to hold military talks with North Korea to reduce tensions between the two countries. The South ...
-
Tensions between North and South Korea have increased sharply since the North’s announcement that it tested a nuclear weapon for the fourt...
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق