Seeing Red exhibition (Seton Hall University) and technology integration

The fall 2018 Seeing Red exhibition curated by Meghan Brady and Alexandra Henderson conveyed the different values of the color red among various personal and political platforms. By combining paintings, posters, three-dimensional items, and certain technological items the show aimed to show the significance of the color red.

The use of multiple mediums and platforms made the show visually appealing and captivating though not overwhelmingly “techy”. In one alcove a projector displayed Yuli Sung’s Democratic People’s Republic of the United States (2017) that represented how the color red was used in the flags of both the United States and North Korea. The video was ideally placed alone in the alcove where the light could remain dimmed and no other objects were in the way. This is not any type of ground-breaking integration but adequately represents politics in terms of the interpretation of the color red and, given a certain budget for the gallery, did offer more than just posters and art objects.

Secondly the exhibition included one object by Carole Loeffler that utilized headphones and device to play back soundscapes. Rooted is a piece meant to encourage reflection and meditation using the music and a mirror that visitors could sit in front of. This correlates to the Buddhist and Hindu beliefs in the root chakra and the association it has to the color red. The device was hidden behind the felt-decorated mirror so visually there was no bulky or obvious devices seen. I believe this is beneficial to the purpose of the piece where nothing frivolous could disturb the visitor’s experience. Since the device was not plugged into any sockets it would have required some monitoring so it did not die during operation hours. One aspect I did not enjoy about this tech integration was that the mirror would be reflecting oneself out towards the glass wall between the gallery and the hallway. Personally I felt this took away from the self-reflection purpose and was intrusive.

These two objects along portrayed the color red in two very different styles and meanings. Overall I was not too enthralled by the exhibition (whether that was because of a certain attitude I was in or because of different interests) but the two tech objects easily stand out from the other objects involved. I did enjoy some of the first pieces I saw including Eric Jiaju Lee’s painting and some of the other Asian-inspired art. I do not have much of an eye for curating or exhibition design but I could see how the flow of the space was laid out to accommodate the different reds and pieces.