The first thoughts that come to mind while walking around Chelsea Piers would not have been art. Sure, the buildings are fancy and hi-tech, the Highline is a fascinating historical treasure in itself, and the Getty Station is eye-popping, but I never truly saw the art in Chelsea. The art world of Chelsea, however, is eminent if one chooses to seek it. It is the inconspicuous nature of the galleries hidden between the office buildings and the stores, that make Chelsea the treasure trove for art lovers everywhere.

At the Yossi Milo Galleries, many South African themed photo by Pieter Hugo were put on display depicting lifestyles and tensions in South Africa, things Hugo was very familiar with. However, this photograph stuck out to me. At first glance, the work reminded me of something seen in Greek or Roman era, where the marble used brought me back to learning about art in prior history classes. However, after taking a closer look, the humans portrayed in the piece did not display the usual theme of white supremacy. Rather, it displayed the complete opposite, where the club-wielding bald African men dominated the bearded white men, who were on the ground with agonized facial expressions. It also shows the tension in South Africa during apartheid and post-apartheid. The photograph most likely depicts some of the emotions and thoughts of Africans who suffered during that time. I particularly love this piece because it shows a perspective of those oppressed, a perspective that is spoken about frequently, in a new and creative light.

Samantha Chiu