Event #2 - Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem

In this exhibition, “Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem,” by Vivan Sundaram, there are two different styles of artwork that come together in this one exhibition showroom. On one side, we have Gagawaka, in which we have multiple pieces of clothing and accessories that are all made of recycled material  or medical supplies. On the other side, we have Postmortem, sculptures created using and manipulating anatomical models.

"Pill-Fill "

"Spine 2"

Both sides are examples of being that third culture in between two seemingly opposite sides. Sundaram made beautiful and interesting pieces of wearable art out of either material to be thrown away or important medical equipment. I would not think that such items could be made using these resources. With the anatomical models, Sundaram combined them in interesting ways that I wouldn’t expect.

"Immunity Cover" - Made out of surgical masks

From assortment of large/small shelf objects

The exhibition is described as “[capturing] the tension between beauty and illness, pleasure and pain, life and death.” These contrasts are seen through the different elements and materials that the artworks are made out of. What’s cool about this exhibition is that it uses these contrasts to create something interesting. I was both interested and confused in why these two sides come together in this showroom. The exhibition can help us understand the importance of two cultures and how it through the intersection and collaboration of the two cultures to make a new third culture in between. It was perfect to explain to the audience straight out that this exhibition is the combination of styles because it highlights the importance of their differences and how they can be connected of compared. I recommend this exhibit to those interested in the different ways the third culture arises in art and wanted to explore the results of these different collaborations.