Art in the Everyday:
8th Avenue Rush
Three years ago, I entered a writing contest called Growing Up Chinese in NYC where students were called upon to speak about their childhood experiences as Chinese-Americans in New York City. I entered and by chance, my entry was accepted to be published along with others in an anthology. I completely forgot about the essay I wrote until recently, but there happened to be a passage in it that described a market run through 8th Avenue of Brooklyn in vivid detail. I wrote of weaving through throngs of people, the bright fruits lined up neatly, and the fun of choosing fresh food as if it were an adventure.
Three years later, I no longer share the same sentiments I did in that anecdote. When I walk through the streets, I rush instead of strolling. I don’t stop to look at the wares or to listen to the chatter of the people that congregate around good deals. Instead I rush through, hurrying from Point A to Point B. In the video I shot, I tried to capture the idea of a frantic pace and a blurry, faded view. But in the end, what really stands out about the video is the constant movement and the tide of people coming towards and exiting the camera as if in a tunnel. It seems as if we’re fish in a river, flowing freely. The art lies in the experience of navigating the streets.
This got me to wondering – what if someone made an art piece that surrounded us on all sides and truly immersed us? It could be something like the room full of changing screens at the International Center of Photography, but more dynamic. Perhaps a hands-on exhibit or a ride through set pieces? Imagine standing in the center of an opera or sitting behind the violin players in an orchestra. The audience members would be within the action, and if we took it a step further, they could influence and change the art. Could this possibly be the future of art?