Abishek Johnson's Life

What is Art?

To ask for a definition of Art is complex. How does one define the boundaries and limits of this simple word, that despite its simplicity, invokes powerful human reactions? The answer is often times overlooked because its solution is too easy for a problem that is too intricate. Art is subjective, something that varies from person to person. The meaning of Art to one individual may not be the same meaning of Art for another individual. Despite this, Art is still something that brings people together despite its different purposes and intentions. It allows humans to connect on a more spiritual level that goes deeper than the everyday vague topics of life. Art will always bring a value and trait of curiosity to those it attracts. An attitude to ask questions, to see the world from differing points of view, and to expand their knowledge is what makes the viewers of Art grow.

On my walk from Penn Station to Baruch College, many things, people, and buildings cross my line of vision. Some days its the new coffeeshop that just opened, or some days it’s the less appealing vomit of a homeless man on W28th Street that I change direction to avoid. However despite the new sights and smells each morning walk brings me, one thing never changes. The Flatiron Building. As I make my way down Broadway to Madison Square Park, my eyes are constantly attracted to the Flatiron Building.This building is definitely considered Art because of the attraction and magnetic effect it has. The Flatiron Building draws 100s of tourists each day to stand in awe at its architectural wonder. Personally, it invokes a feeling of hope and continuity for me. Upon sight of the building, I know I am close to the start of a new school day and am relaxed by the sense of stability it brings in the busy streets of NYC.

This second photograph is hard to classify as being art or not. This sunglass vendor accomplishes the organization and intention of a normal artwork, however can be argued by critics as just another vendor trying to sell their product on the streets of NYC. The main reason I photographed this image was to depict that although art may be hard to define at times,  its mainly subjective. This photo can swing both ways as far as being classified for art, yet the over arching idea behind this image is illustrated by the dozens of sunglasses. As customers try on different pairs, the purpose is the same, but the result is varied, creating different perspectives and a constantly evolving point of view; just like the definition of Art.

This Crosswalk Signal located on the Intersection of 5th Avenue and Broadway caught my attention. Not as something that can be considered art, but something that serves its purpose. As seen, this crosswalk has had its fair share of damage because it has been used multiple times per day. However this does not classify it as art because Art should be something that invokes feelings, and this crosswalk simply doesn’t do that. Its inability to create expression from those it comes in contact with show viewers why something like a simple crosswalk signal is not Art in the streets of NYC.

After my walk around NYC, I was able to develop my personal definition of Art, that may vary from the norm, yet is still true in its own right. Art is a culmination of different aspects that bring the meaning of Art to life. The classification of Artwork is something that is organized, inclusive, personal, yet subjective enough to invoke varying feelings and emotions in others; based on the framing, context and story behind the intentional or unintentional artwork. The definitions of Art may vary, but the power of Art is unchanging.

Visit to the Guggenheim

The thought of visiting a Museum is daunting. Concerns of personal creativity and proper perspective begin to play in one’s mind. However, once stepping into the lobby of the Guggenheim Museum, all those concerns were subsided for views of awe and wonder. Thoughts of confusion began to turn to thoughts of how important art is to shape the time period of an entire generation.

Upon arrival to the steps of the Guggenheim, the architecture of the Museum immediately blew me away. Located on 5^th Avenue, rows of similar high rises began to become stale and repetitive. Then I saw the Guggenheim. I had seen pictures on Google Maps to familiarize myself for the walk from the 6 train to the Museum, but nothing really compared to the actual structure. In a place where repetition and commonality was a default, the Guggenheim was able to set itself apart from all its surroundings.

The warm reception from the Museum staff immediately put any thoughts of confusion to rest. With the guided tours, we were able to receive vital information and background stories that gave the art work life and meaning. Throughout the visit, the Museum staff was able to dictate which art pieces we would see, how long we would spend at each piece, and most importantly give us their certain perspective on how the art should be viewed. This was not only an example of how the tour guide directed us, but it was rather an extension of the vision of the Guggenheim Museum through their employees.

The unique architecture of the building was art in and of itself. The circular scheme and ramp completely dictates the flow of visitors. The ability to use geometric shapes in the art they collected as well as the building which they saw come to life speaks to the mindsets of Solomon R. Guggenheim and Hillel Rebay themselves. Mindsets of innovation, experimental, and creative expressions of art work that would challenge the art world and its norms. The tile throughout the floor was composed of a circular pattern, which carried on through its ramps and all the way to the sunlight roof. Literally, from top to bottom, the Guggenheim was able to continue the circular theme all while challenging the confines of the art world through its simple, yet abstract artwork of non-objective, cubism, and impressionist paintings.

Through the works collected by Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, and many other famous artists of their time, Guggenheim was able to complete his masterful artwork of a building, with physical showcases of art for the visitors to see. This combination of art really gave visitors an overall enriching experience. My personal over-complicated views of art were challenged by the simplicity of this Museum and made me realize that though artwork may be subjective, architects work on their craft just like an artist would.

Experiencing Delirium

The most interesting part about the Whitney Museum of American Art organization of the retrospective exhibit of the late Brazilian Artist Helio Oiticica, was not its numerous rooms of artwork but rather its title. The title, “Helio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium” speaks volumes alone about the perspective the curators had of his work. The proper definition of Delirium is an acutely disturbed state of mind. Not only were curators suggesting that Helio’s art came from a state of disturbance, they were also trying to depict to viewers that his journey and struggles inspired his abstract work. The curators of this exhibit had one purpose in mind, to organize Helio Oiticica’s art and form of expression, into an organized view for the common public to understand and comprehend.

One piece of art that really spoke to me about Helio’s intuition was the hanging art he began to create. It was said in the description of the piece that in 1959 he began to take his art on paper and transform them to suspension works from the air. His ability to take his geometrical art work from paper to space really set him apart and began to make visitors feel engaged with the 3-D work. This piece was centered in the middle of the room, meant to catch everyone’s gazing and wandering eyes. The orange color he used also acted as an offset and contrast to the white all around the room.

The second piece of artwork that spoke to me was his creation of the Tropicália. Another interactive exhibit that allowed visitors to feel the same way Helio did when he was in Brazil. From the details of the warm granulated sand beneath our toes, to the huts and tents that caught our eyes, to the sounds of the parrots that attracted our ears to the source, and finally to the Tropical smell of the entire exhibit; Helio Oiticica was able to utilize the senses of visitors to create an illusion that they were walking in the same paths he did in Brazil. By doing this he created a sense of understanding between his life story and visitors who now could not only read about it, but experience it first hand.

Overall, my experience of the Whitney Museum of American Art, as a whole, helped me to enjoy the exhibit even more. The inclusivity and interaction the Whitney Museum provides, allows for viewers to be prepared artistically for each floor. From the great rooftop views of the city skyline to the artwork displayed outside, up the stairs and on each floor really put viewers into the mindset that art is a journey and has transformative power. The overall feeling of the Museum parallels the feelings I encountered in Helio Oiticica’s Exhibit. From being invited to walk along the sand and water pits, to the hammocks and beds in the screening rooms, to the wardrobe spots where we tried on different attire, to the parrots, all the way to the simple things like being able to play a game of pool with Ron. Running into fellow classmates only made the experience that much better, to visualize and understand their perspectives enriched the entire experience.

Power of Photography

Photography has always been something that has fascinated me and captured my focus, no pun intended. The fact that anyone can capture moments in time forever, focus and blur on subjects and backgrounds to place an emphasis on certain topics, and the opportunity to add a perspective many people may never be able to see, have all contributed to my love for photography. The ability of taking a photo may seem trivial to many, but is always very empowering because it allows the photographer to manipulate, frame and decide what they want their audience to see. Not only does this give photographers endless power, but it allows them to edit photos in a way that artists cannot always do as easily with physical paintings or another artwork.

Barthes is able to capture the true meaning of what it means to take a photograph and the feelings it can capture by focusing on what makes a photo a photo, its evidentiality. By paying attention to the viewer reaction, he magnifies the importance of studium and punctum. Terms that carry a lot of weight and meaning while speaking about the power of photography. Barthes describes studium as an element that captures your attention and initial focus when looking at a photo. Factors such as vibrant colors and cool styles all play into the meaning of studium. Whereas punctum is described from Barthes as being that takes that initial interest of the photo to a more personal level. Something that “pricks and bruises” the viewer on an emotional and spiritual level. Factors such as raw details that invoke memories, and actions that remind viewers of past experiences with loved ones, all play into the meaning of punctum.

During my visit to the “Exhibit of Photographs of Marcel Sternberger: Portraits of the 20^th Century” at the Miskin Gallery, I was able to enter with a new mindset of how to view these photos. I became subconsciously aware of my own use of studium and punctum as I viewed photos and I was shocked at how accurate Barthes analysis of photography became. From the photos of world leaders, artists, authors, children, and religions I immediately noticed the black and white theme of Sternberger’s photography style. Some may argue that for this reason alone factors such a studium cannot play a role, but I disagree, studium can be expanded to factors beyond merely bright colors to catch a viewer’s attention. Personally, one photograph that captured the essence of both studium and punctum for me was a photograph from the Unknown Sitters wall. The photograph of the “Old Man” immediately caught my attention because of his large and untamed beard. Something so trivial captured the studium of the photo by causing me to take a double take on this old man’s beard. The punctum factor comes into play as I immediately remembered my grandfather’s beard. Although not as long and untamed, my grandfather’s beard was a distinct memory I had of him, something that allowed me to differentiate him from everyone else growing up. The ability of a photograph of a random unknown old man to invoke memories of my own experiences with my grandfather back in India is what photography is all about, capturing your attention, then allowing you to personalize the image. Barthes analysis of photography was not only accurate, but will change how I view future photos.

This photograph taken from a hike 2 years ago helps to capture the effects of studium and punctum. The bright and vibrant range of colors will catch a viewers eye, and from there it will invoke personal emotion by showing viewers the large drop from the clifftop. Driving factors such as fear and adrenaline will cause viewers to put themselves into my shoes and feel the same emotions I felt sitting at the edge of the cliff. It may give some the courage to conquer their fear of heights or it may even remind them of past experiences they’ve had while hiking with friends and family. Overall, the power of the photograph is subjective and it will cause different types of reactions to each viewer.

Photography in India by Raghubir Singh

The exhibit of “Modernism on the Ganges: The Photographs of Raghubir Singh” related more to me than any other museum or exhibit this year. This is not only because I was born in India, but more importantly because it captured an aspect of my life I did not have access too. After leaving Kerala, my home state located in the southern part of India, I have only returned twice in the past 15 years to visit my grandparents and cousins. As time goes on, the physical connection I once had with my home land will eventually begin to fade into the depths of my memory. Photography will be the only thing that will help me keep those memories far past the lives of my grandparents and far past any barrier of physical distance.

Raghubir Singh is able to depict the true impact of photography by “capturing reality” rather than merely interpreting it, as addressed by Susan Sontag. During the 1970s, Raghubir was a trailblazer for color photography and helped to show the world the power of “capturing reality” in photographs. Raghubir Singh focused his colorful work in the many different regions and states in India. From Calcutta, Bombay, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and even my own state of Kerala, Raghubir was able to capture photos of a land often times overlooked by other photographers. Growing up, I would hear my parents and family refer to these neighboring states of Kerala, but was never able to truly visualize it. As Kerala was mainly known as the tropical southern part of India, Bombay (now Mumbai) was located in the northern part of India. Often times seen in the same view of cities such as New York City in America. These vast differences were highlighted through Singh’s photography and truly exposed me to my own country.

Through these photos of India, I was able to visualize the large growth India had gone through over the past 50 years. The development of every region of India is very spectacular, especially in my native state. From villages and dirt roads, Kerala has become one of India’s most successful states, leading the country in education standards, health sectors, literacy, high tourism rates, and of course the best sea-food in the country. The urbanization of states such as Kerala over the past years is something that may not have been captured by Raghubir, but his photos help to capture the great growth of the country, reminding citizens and outsiders alike where the country used to be as far as development was concerned.

Overall, Raghubir Singh’s use of color in his photography brought the rich colors of India to life, and showed viewers the reasons why the British wanted to colonize India in the first place. Rather than interpreting the images, he let the true essence of India capture the attention of viewers so they could see the reality of the country. He was able to “capture the true reality” of post-colonial India in its up and coming stages of development. It’s a shame that he will no longer be able to capture the reality of how far India, as a whole, has come. However, his photos will forever be a reminder for Indian citizens, like myself, where we started and the great development we went through to make India such a leading power country in the World.

Madison Square Park: A Microcosm of the City

Madison Square Park is a park that attracts many different types of people every day. From the workers of nearby corporate buildings coming down to eat lunch during their break, the common dog walker, the stay at home mother who brings her children to the Mori Ann Smith Playground, and the Baruch student cutting through the park to get to their 9:05 AM Music History Class, Madison Square Park sees all of these people and much more. Described as a microcosm of The City, the park helps to bring in the same diversity of New York City by its calm and peaceful views.

During my daily morning commute to Baruch, I like to cut through Madison Square Park because it gives me a fresh start to my day. Seeing the City slow down within the fence of the park allows me to slow down as well. In a city that is always in a rush, Madison Square Park is the exact opposite. As stated by Lewis Mumford, Madison Square park becomes, “a theatre of social action” and a space of “significant collective drama.” All around me I can see musicians around the fountain, creating music that brightens the day of many visitors. Examples like these street musicians help to create the theatre image in Madison Square Park. The theatre like aspect of the Park continues when you see the audience began to grow. Many people stop to sit on the Cherry Lawn and bring their kids to enjoy a nice picnic on the Redbug Lawn as the music of the park fills their background conversations. The ability of Madison Square Park to be so versatile is what makes it a microcosm of New York City, because it allows for a multitude of “audience” reactions to the “theatre” music.

Madison Square Park continues its imitation of New York City as a whole by capturing the “significant collective drama.” From the mother yelling at her kids to stop feeding the hungry squirrels, to the homeless man yelling at the hungry squirrel trying to steal his food, Madison Square Park has a various range of drama being displayed every day. The people that pass through the park were all different, some had somewhere to be, some were just trying to capture the perfect photo of the Flatiron Building, all while others were just trying to enjoy the moment. This collective drama of Madison Square Park acts as the microcosm of New York City because these same interactions can be seen in the City on a larger scale.

Overall, we realize that Madison Square Park is the perfect smaller scale version of New York City as a whole because it captures the art, music, and social interactions within its borders. The ability of the park to capture a significant collective drama in the lives of passing New Yorkers is what makes this park a microcosm of the City.

Secrets of Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station holds a significant place in my heart. Not because I’m a daily commuter that takes the trains from Grand Central Station, but because it was the first place I visited as a tourist of this great City. Upon our arrival to New York from Texas, many friends and family wanted to show us the wonders of New York City. As a 10-year-old, the one thing I remember from those trips to the City were not the bright lights or even the tall skyscrapers, it was the Whispering Wall from Grand Central Station. The idea that someone 20 feet away from me could hear me talking was something that not only perplexed me, but it made my young self believe that anything was possible in my new hometown called New York City.

Although Ron, Sarin and I visited the Grand Central Market, the Biltmore Room, the Ramps, the Golden Clock, Ticket Booths, and other sites on the audio tour, the Whispering Wall ironically spoke the loudest to us. Upon getting the map of Grand Central Station, I immediately knew where I wanted to go first so I could show Ron and Sarin the moment where my mind was blown. I wanted to be the one that showed them this hidden treasure of New York City because then they would always remember our trip to Grand Central Station together and recall it to the Whispering Wall, just as I had done when I heard we were visiting Grand Central Station.

Story:

In the fall of 2008, the Baruch Foreign Exchange Program began inviting young High School student to come enjoy a semester in New York. Andrew was 14-year-old foreign exchange student from Australia eager to learn about the wonders of New York City. Upon his arrival, his host family was eager to show him the best spots of New York City. The Smith family wanted to make sure Andrew felt comfortable in his new environment so they did everything in their power to make him feel at home.

When Mrs. Smith asked Andrew what he wanted to see in New York City, he asked to be surprised. Anything would make him happy but something not many other tourists experienced was what Andrew really wanted. He wanted the experience that would give him the ability to brag to his other Australian friends who were dying to go to New York City.

To grant his requests, the Smith family took him to the heart of New York City. They showed him the best spots in the City, from Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and even Gantry State Plaza to see the skyline of the City in its best view.

Andrew had taken a million and one pictures and was satisfied with his trip to New York City. He had visited all the popular spots in the City, something he always dreamed of. The one thing that was missing was the surprise factor from the trip. In every location he visited, he was blown away by the lights and tall buildings, but had expected all of it because he had seen it on every tourist site.

After 2 months, Andrew finally got his surprise moment as he was leaving New York City. In Grand Central Station, he was waiting for the train that would take him to JFK Airport. While waiting, he saw a class of students on the bottom of the ramps making a considerable amount of noise. Curious to see what he was missing out on, he decided to go take a look. Upon investigating the students as to what they were doing, he understood why they were so surprised and excited. He decided to give the Whispering Wall a try. To his surprise, he could hear the voice of a student across the platform. Not sure how this was possible, Andrew smiled to himself and realized that as he was leaving New York City, the City itself surprised him more than anyone else ever could. This was an experience not even the Smith’s knew, this was his little secret with New York City in the confines of Grand Central Station.

The Case for NYC Urban Change

The lights, skyscrapers, and cultural hub have always drawn producers and directors of famous movies to use the streets of New York City as their setting for their award-winning movies. New York City has been popularized for one reason by the exposure it has in so many famous movies. Visitors and tourists to Times Square are almost always there because they’ve seen it in a movie or TV show. For New Yorkers, this may just be another Avenue of The City, but for others it’s the visual representation of what they have fantasied New York City to be all along, the bright lights, the crowds of people and the excitement in the atmosphere. From Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and even the Grand Central Station, New York City has been the home multiple popular movie sets for ages. Overtime, it is important to note that as the years passed, the landscape of New York City also began to evolve. This evolution is what enables us to see the classic landmarks of New York we’ve seen on famous classic movies from generations ago.

The changes in the New York City urban landscape has been documented through blockbuster movies over the past years. From 1900 to 2017, movies have been able to capture the change in urban landscape as well as the social and cultural change of The City. One great example of a New York City Landmark that has appeared in many films is the Empire State Building. Although I see the amazing landmark everyday on my walk to Baruch, I often take for granted the amount of movie scenes that have been shot with the Empire State Building.

From romantic films using the overview from the landmark, to movies like King Kong (1933) and Independence Day (1996) where the beautiful building gets destroyed help to show the versatility of the Empire State Building as a movie scene. One of the most famous movie scenes occurs when King Kong scales the side of the building. As Kong reaches the peak of the building, an overview of the City can be seen, as it was visualized in 1933. Independence Day also has multiple scenes of the overview of the City, as it was visualized in 1996. However, when comparing the scenes of these two classics, one can quickly realize how much the City of New York has continued to develop. Between the years of 1933 to 1996, there were approximately another 50 skyscrapers built in New York City.

These changes not only go to show the importance of looking to movies to see the change in our major cities, but it more importantly shows that New York City is constantly evolving, physically and culturally. These changes to the landscape also had vast changes to the economic and social aspect of the city. Many of the new buildings that were built between 1933 and 1996 are financial institutions used by thousands of people and workers every day. Tourists now have more places to stay as multiple luxury hotels were built and the need for jobs in these new buildings have strengthened the New York local economy. Overall, we realize that as New York City continues to build new buildings, it is also building new cultures all while strengthening the traditions held by previous generations of New Yorkers before it.

Art in the OpenThe Exodus

The “Exodus” at Essex Street is an amazing Ad Platform because it depicts parallels between the people walking down the street and the people depicted in the ad. Both are weighed down by the burdens of life and on a constant journey to get somewhere in life. Whether socially or in their workplace, many people in New York City are constantly trying to get somewhere in life. The rush of New York City can be depicted by the Exodus art because the people in the image are constantly evolving and moving ahead in life.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park is one of my favorite places in New York because of the memories I have created there. Whether it was running through the fountain with my cousins from Texas, riding my bike from Long Island all the way to the Unisphere with my best friend, or even playing football at the park nearby with friends, this area of New York has always provided me great memories. While visiting once again, I immediately saw the impact the Unisphere had on other people as well. The Circle Fence provided an area to relax and enjoy the “world” with their loved ones. This open art helped to strengthen the power of the Unisphere itself.

Although the steel cage seemed like an obstruction to the Arch at first, I quickly realized the deeper meaning of the open art as I saw the figure that was cutout of it. The cutout of the two figures below the already historical arch helped to create an inception of thought and unity. Visitors were able to engage the steel cage cutout by manipulating the frames and perspectives they took their photos. It continues to draw visitors and other members of the community through its eye appeal and deeper meaning.

If I were to create a public art project that engaged the New York City Community I would begin by creating guidelines for the optimal results. Reach the greatest number of people through placing art in high traffic areas, do not dislocate current artwork pieces (only add to the message or overall theme of the initial art), and use one artwork created by a normal everyday member of the City. The theme from my curatorial project will enable my artwork to reach all demographics of people in New York City. The class structure theme from my Curatorial Project will help to capture artwork in different locations of the City that enable the widest influence and impact on the people of New York. Art in the different classes will not be filtered based on any financial restrictions, to be fair to all people, the public art will not have price tags depending on its location. I would also include structural art, ad platforms and street art to help capture the true art of New York City. This not only enables the art forms to be widespread, but to reach a number of different viewers as well. Overall, my public art project would be an extension of my Curatorial Project by basing art in different classes that spoke to each region and caused a controversy that sparked a healthy debate and discussion among its inhabitants.

– ABISHEK JOHNSON (AJ)