06.01.2020 18.39 (2022). Video projection, sound and fans
This is an installation by Alfredo Jaar exhibited at the Whitney Biennial 2022. This piece consists of video footage from June 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC following the murder of George Floyd.
In this installation, the video part shows scenes of police in riot gear using flash grenades and tear gas on crowds of protesters in an effort to disperse them, and a police helicopter is brought in to make them further scatter.
In one key moment, the helicopter flies incredibly low, threatening the crowd. The fans and the sound in this installation simulates the sounds and movement of the helicopter. The fans spin incredibly fast, with the loud sound simulating the engine, this piece situations the audience into the threatening environment. This work brings in discussion of social justice, violence, and surveillance.
I found this work inspiring and relevant to this class because it records, captures, and displays the event in a way that challenges the viewers to physically engage with video works.
Links:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/alfredo-jaar-whitney-biennial-2022-2093016
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/04/25/2022-whitney-biennial-video-artists