confrontation vs conversation 2020

For the Confrontation vs. Conversation group exhibition planned for October 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I created two artworks that are a natural extension of my art’s social themes and humanitarian subjects.

Time seems to be suspended as the Covid-19 virus hits individuals, communities, and the world. Under the spell of this sudden harsh confrontation with a pandemic and its effects, I feel compelled to address this reality, putting the “Femicide” subject on hold.

As I see it, the confrontation addresses our dealing with sudden disasters like this pandemic, while the conversation relates to how humankind can leverage catastrophes for positive change.

I have created two hexagons. Although the hexagon is constructed of six equilateral triangles that give it six points, my idea is to work within the hexagon with a counter shape – a circle of outgoing and returning ripples from and to its center (see image).

In my signature style of a three-dimensional paper relief, I created the two hexagons complimentarily; one will be the negative space of the other to fit together as one homogenous piece – negative dystopia vs. positive utopia.

Black/Grey Hexagon: The Present

The inner circle, a microscopic virus, spreads out, causing vicious chain reactions of devastating effects and magnitude. The six sharp corner points stand for social distancing, isolation, fear, uncertainty, grief, and anxiety caused by daily surreal realities.

White Hexagon: The Day After

The aftermath of being hit by something bigger than ourselves has the potential to become a positive opportunity for the renewal of opinions, beliefs, perspectives, and energies that can ripple outward from individual circles to all corners of the world. We will be allowed to re-envision society. The six corner points of this hexagon stand for interconnectedness, community, solidarity, opportunities, resiliency, and healing (personal, societal, and environmental).

The group exhibition Buenos Aires Argentine is postponed till further notice. 

Photos by: Sigal Kolton