Upon visiting the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the current exhibit Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility presents a wide array of topics to be discussed under the umbrella of darkness. This includes, but is not limited to the literal interpretation of darkness with the absence of color and light. By intentionally concealing essential aspects of the photos, more attention ends up being placed onto those exact areas out of curiosity. The pieces also draw to dark emotions, spaces, and represent hardships which people are faced with. The emotions that the artists wished to evoke out of the audience were often very clear and bold, if not quite unsettling. It was this overall experience which was targeted by the artists themselves. This theme was often achieved through means other than color schemes, yet the message was clear and cohesive nonetheless.
This exhibit features the work of 28 artists, all of whom obscure the images in order to create an element of mystery while simultaneously relaying their message rather openly. This leaves the viewer with a lingering thought of what could be hidden, thus fostering a personal connection to the piece itself. The main idea surrounding the curation of these works within the exhibit is to be on the “edge of visibility”, which was executed very well. While in many of the images, the main subject of the photo is fully present and in frame, the subject’s face or an aspect which one would typically look for is intentionally concealed. This adds a layer of depth to the piece, no matter how simple or complex the photograph is because it easily sparks an emotional connection between the art and the audience.
This first photograph on the left by Farah Al Qasimi from 2017 titled “It’s Not Easy being Seen 2” is a true representation of the “edge of visibility” that is modeled by the exhibit. While the entire shot is vibrant, in focus, and in frame, all of that detail that is typically looked for by people is left to the imagination. Not only is the woman’s entire face completely concealed, her hands are too, which elevates the level of mystery within the piece. While the entirety of the image is visible to the reader, almost nothing is visible at the same time. Despite all of this, it can be deduced that the subject feels confined and hidden, which are very dark topics to consider. This piece is a testament to the fact that art can be an experience, which goes beyond the physical work that is being analyzed.
In a similar way, another photo that stood out to me was Stephanie Syjuco’s portrait from 2017 titled “Total Transparency Filter”. This image also clearly focuses on the subject in a way that grants the viewer plenty of space to form their own interpretation. Although the entire subject is clearly visible, there is not an overwhelming amount of emotion that would initially hit the audience. Instead it is the presence of this empty feeling which, in turn, adds to the experience. The greyscale color scheme also takes away from the potential of a lively atmosphere. However, this piece was also louder with its theme in the way that the transparency layer was covering the person who was intended to be the subject of the photo. This essentially would erase this person from the image, sparking a deeper conversation surrounding the topic of darkness on the internet.
There is also an undeniable element of tension between the images in the Going Dark exhibit and the viewer. The best a person can do is believe that they have an understanding of the artist’s vision, but they will always be left with the curiosity of wanting to know more. Refusing to give into this unsettling feeling feeds into the dark theme of the exhibit itself. We are often spoiled with the pleasure of having full access and information to an art piece, which leaves the sense of satisfaction that was omitted by many of these works. Aside from the obvious interpretation of darkness with a corresponding color scheme, these images were able to achieve these emotions even with a bright or loud color scheme. Through the use of angles, positioning of the subject, and clothing in order to effectively conceal the part which the artist wants the audience to focus on, the emptiness is exactly what is supposed to be conveyed. On a non-physical level, emptiness is a very dark feeling in itself, which is how many of these pieces tied into the exhibit’s theme successfully.
This was a really interesting analysis of art, since you were able to explore the idea that art is an entire experience. The darkness of the pieces definitely evokes emotion in the viewer, but it’s important to consider the fact that each person would experience this emotion very differently.
You chose a really interesting exhibit to analyze, especially considering the themes you analyze. The works themselves are quite interesting, especially “It’s Not Easy Being Seen 2”. When I first saw this, I was reminded of green screens, which are known for allowing video editors to overlay video within the green areas. This makes me have a different interpretation, meaning that absolutely anyone and anything could lie within and around the clothing. Perhaps we don’t need to know what was in the piece, rather anything is welcome in it.