By OLIVIA RETTSTATT
STAFF WRITER
This past Friday I had the pleasure of going to Montreal for their Biennale, the art worlds version of a Olympics, that many big-name museums and artists take part in globally. Montreal’s artists this year focus on art of the 60’s and onward, thus explaining the title “L’avenir” or “Looking Forward.” Many of the works were videos, though there were sculptural pieces and paintings to enjoy as well. Overall, as with most contemporary art, a majority of these pieces had deeper social commentaries that were more mentally stimulating than visually pleasing.
A favorite piece of mine from the show was one that was most, unfortunately, prevalent to this generation. The 2014 work titled Courtroom Drawings (Steubenville Rape Case, Text Messages Entered As Evidence, 2013) by Andrea Bowers was less art and more social commentary. Plastered in rectangles and squares across the wall in a myriad of blue hues were text messages from 16 year olds, all talking about the raping of their female peer. The blasé tone expressed through their words was sickening, but what stuck with me more was that this is our generation, what we say and what we do cannot be simply erased in the cyberspaces we live in. I didn’t want to admit to the common culture of calling girls ‘sluts,’ sending naked pictures, or discussing others sexual habits over phones, but it is the sad reality: I just got to see it plastered over a 30-foot wall. Though darker than the other pieces I observed, I think this is something all of us should see.
So if you have a chance to head up to Montreal, I strongly suggest stopping by M.A.C for the Biennale (it closes April 1st) as well as the Museum of Fine Art. Whether you label yourself “artsy” or you’re a total art novice, take some time to experience our culture, society and maybe even yourself through a creative lens.