Muxima |
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| Andrzej Lawn | |||
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When walking into Galerie Lelong to see Alfredo Jaar’s most recent work, one immediately notices something missing. In the heart of Chelsea, in a gallery surrounded by other galleries that present themselves as temples of modern art, there is strangely almost nothing on the walls or any freestanding sculptures. Written on the wall close to door towards the back of the gallery are a series of show times. There is no continuous looping film, and if one arrives in between shows, nothing awaits the viewer save an eerie emptiness. Converting the gallery into a theatre, Jaar’s film is meant to be seen from start to finish, offering the viewer a cinematic experience where one can slow down and allow oneself time to feel. Muxima, meaning heart in Kimbundu, is a film devoted to the people of the African nation of Angola. Devoid of dialogue, the film is structured around its music, each song also entitled "Muxima." Showing scenes of everyday life juxtaposed with industrial activity, Jaar lets the music and the images speak for themselves. The disconnect between the people and the development of the country is inherently paradoxical, yet Jaar’s imagery and portrayal of the Angolan people avoids the seductive power of sentimentality. Instead, Jaar allows the film to assert the vulnerability of the Angolan people, reassuring that life is present. An image that first struck me as curious of six Angolan youths holding their hand over their heart, was shown repeatedly throughout the film. I learned later that this was an Angolan symbol of respect and caring that was extended to Alfredo Jaar and his work in Angola. The film and its production in Angola had given the Angolan people involved a genuine sense of hope, but while watching it in such a privileged place as the Galerie Lelong, I could not help but feel as if this was the wrong venue for such an intimate work that was less about art than about the people involved. The power of Jaar’s work lies in its ability to transcend itself. Although shown in a gallery, his work seems to short circuit the narcissistic cycle that most art gets trapped in. Not content with providing a mirror image, Muxima provides a glimpse of how society is structured and its dissipation through standardization and commodity influences. Simultaneously taking on the role of a cultural anthropologist and artist, Jaar understands that culture is a living entity, and that artists can maintain culture by expanding its possibilities and limits. Muxima reminds us that there is something far more important than art–life. |
Muxima – Andrzej Lawn
Date posted: July 27, 2006
Author: jolanta
When walking into Galerie Lelong to see Alfredo Jaar’s most recent work, one immediately notices something missing. In the heart of Chelsea, in a gallery surrounded by other galleries that present themselves as temples of modern art, there is strangely almost nothing on the walls or any freestanding sculptures.
