ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow, 1950s-60s at the Guggenheim Museum proved to be an interesting exhibition. The question of the night seemed to be, “Is this really art?” Upon seeing several of the pieces, it seems as though they were simple enough to be done by anybody. However, the exhibition included several videos that documented the difficult procedures and methods that the artists in the ZERO network used to create their work. One structure, made of a painted canvas marked with deep slashes, actually was created with a lot of precision, as the artist was shown smoothing and bending the slashes so as to make them appear a particular way. It made me realize that part of art could be making the audience feel as though they could be part of it and be the artists of it as well. I saw this in several pieces, especially in the “Vision in Motion – Motion in Vision” in which there is scrolling papers that list actions for the viewers to do in front of a mirror that will reflect their image as they do it. This is the overarching message of the ZERO exhibition that I received. As the world experienced destruction in the face of World War II, the artists in the ZERO network chose to reinvent what exactly art is and part of that is taking art to a level that is unconventional yet understandable as if belonging to the public to define art for that period of time.
Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes was a testament to how much technology has been incorporated into the arts. The technicians were able to create 3D snowflakes, 3D Christmas gifts, backdrops of New York City, product placements of sponspors, and an infinite amount of Santa Clauses. Also, a majority of songs and such were pre-recorded. A part of the art was the fashion of the Rockettes. Every outfit was incredibly detailed and added to the stories told in the show. The Rockettes were a thrilling part of the show, having wanted to see them for as long as I can remember. However, their frequent appearance on the stage in almost every single scene started to feel excessive after a point. It did increase my admiration for how hard they work though. The Radio City Music Hall itself did have an added feature that not many other theatres have: sales. There was loads of candy on the lower level of the Hall that would be a dream for any child to lay their eyes on. It does add to the sweetness of the experience. It made me think about how much I’d love to bring my younger cousins or my own children to the Hall one day, not really to experience theatrical arts but to get into the Christmas spirit and get amazement from all the things that advanced technology has made possibly.
Disgraced by Ayad Akthar at the Lyceum Theatre gave me by far the best experience before the break. Of all the theatre performances I have seen, it was the most realistic and modern play which made a difference. Much more of the dialogue was conversational which isn’t what I’m used to seeing on stage. At first, it appeared as though the acting quality was not so great. Eventually, as the play gets heavier and heavier, the acting seems to flow. This was one performance that did not seem to hold back one bit. Every shocking line and moment was delivered with a force. I decided to see the performance because Islamophobia in America has been a topic of much interest to me that I have not had the chance to look into and do not experience firsthand. By the end, I could really find myself relating the troubles within the Muslim American community to those experienced by Black Americans. The performance dealt with issues such as displacement, colonization, racism, and diaspora, using the perspectives of those outside and inside the community. It was a fantastic production leaving me with lots to talk and think about it. I appreciate art that makes me want to continue the conversation long after it’s over.
