“War and Separation” at the time of Coronavirus
[kopa_blockquote border=”left”]The universal subject of displaced families and individuals seeking refuge and homes in parts of the world that are distant and culturally different from their roots was the original theme of this exhibition. The spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks has suggested the inclusion of the results of psychological violence that accompanies confronting uncertainty and survival on a daily basis. Fear of sickness and death, and the ambiguity of what we can and can not control, can be unbearable without support. Interwoven in this theme is the promise of hope, born of empathy through common experience. More than any other time in our lifetime, it is important to stay connected to each other on a spiritual level. That may mean more phone calls and emails, more Skype calls, more “Zoom” meetings, more online sharing of art, music, and literature, and the proliferation of hope. God works through people. artist Carol Heft,USA[/kopa_blockquote]
Initially, the paintings and drawings that make up Carol Heft’s “War and Separation” series will lead many in the U.S. to think of the separation of families happening today at our southern border. While these events certainly inform Heft’s pictures, which she’s been developing since 2018, a closer look at the work shows human figures that are intentionally vague and general. They are not a particular group of people from a particular region of the world at a particular historic moment, but rather they can be anybody, anywhere, at any time. By rendering her figures this way, the artist conveys the universality of suffering that people endure during periods of war, oppression, and poverty. At the same time, Heft shows us the joy of reunion and the hope of peace felt by loved ones who were once torn apart and are now together again. Whoever we are, we may see ourselves in these works.
The scale, composition, and palette of the larger paintings in this series are reminiscent of Renaissance works by Michelangelo and Raphael, but Heft’s paintings and drawings have an intensity and a sense of urgency that is closer to Goya, with a bold simplicity of form akin to Gauguin. Her brushstrokes and lines are energetic and immediate, expressing her deep need to quickly respond to and communicate to others the pain and the joy she sees around her. These are things that are happening now, the pictures insist, and they must be acknowledged and addressed now. However, there is also great deliberateness and purpose in the handling of her materials, revealing an artist who is very much a master of the mediums through which she’s chosen to share her experience and understanding of the world with us.
HAF: Carol, we know that you have been in the studio preparing for this exhibition for nearly two years. How has working in the epicenter of the Covid-19 crisis been, with to date, 83,712 confirmed cases in New York City; how have you personally witnessed the changes in day to day activity in your community?
Carol: For the past three weeks, I have been mostly in Bethlehem, PA. My husband, Bill, and I both work at schools here. Both schools sent the students home right after Spring Break and moved all the classes online. My friends and neighbors in New York, with whom I have been in contact almost daily, are coping with the pandemic by staying connected via zoom meetings, email, phone calls, and skype. I am very fortunate to be part of a community in New York. Some of my friends have contracted the virus, have mild cases and are recovering at home, quarantined, but not isolated because of our community. Several of Bill’s musician friends have died or are sick. The governor has just announced the playgrounds will be closed soon. There are many people in the city who support themselves with casual employment such as babysitting, cleaning, sewing, repairing for individuals or working off the books and are terrified they will starve if they don’t work.
HAF: We realize that the “War and Separation” exhibition, which was to open on April 21, 2020, has been postponed due to the coronavirus. How has this situation impacted the art community in which you live?
Carol: I am part of a network of artists who manage and run galleries in New York City. Several of us who were planning exhibitions have had to postpone or cancel. It is a loss in the sense that we cannot share our work with the public, but it is a kind of “luxury problem” when you put it in perspective. Most of us have spent considerable time and resources to organize and prepare for the exhibitions. Press releases, announcement cards, mailings, catalogs, etc., so it has been frustrating in that regard, but I believe we are all healthy. There will be other opportunities to exhibit art, but you only get one life. I think some artists have used this experience to work from home studios, and, like the rest of us, taken time, maybe time we didn’t have before, to confront the existential crisis that the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought about. Everyone handles it in their own way. I have found comfort and peace by relying on spiritual resources, connecting with supportive people, and reaching out to those who are alone.
“War and Separation” was originally scheduled to open April 21 – May 16, 2020, at the Blue Mountain Gallery, 530 West 25th, 4th floor, New York, NY 10001; the show has been postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Chris Taylor is an Ohio-based artist and a Senior Lecturer in the Dept of Art at the Ohio State University; Ron Shelton contributed to this story.
