Niàbos Art Gallery will hold an exhibition of artwork by local artist Jason Kaufman on Nov. 23. In the exhibition “In My Own Weiwei: Activism, Art, and Political Apathy,” Kaufman uses contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei as a model for rethinking the function and purpose of art in his own life and society at large.
The idea for exhibit of this nature came from Kaufman’s recent disillusionment with art. “The idea that the ‘artist’ directs the attention of the uninitiated towards the subtle beauty of the world has always felt like a conceit,” said Kaufman.
“The work I like best is as ugly as it is pretty. Even the philosophical problems I explore in my own work—ontology, identity, truth—are beginning to feel less important to me. These are first world problems, but we have real problems. We have gross invasions of privacy, growing disparity in the distribution of wealth, and pitiful mental health-care. Even our freedom of speech, which we hold to be the linchpin of democracy, has curiously led to our imprisonment in the hyperbolic rhetoric of extremists on both ends of the political spectrum. So now, more than ever, we could use the subtle touch of art to capture the full nuance of these issues. With this exhibit, that is what I’ve tried to do,” said Kaufman.
Kaufman’s exhibit will be the last exhibit of the year for Niàbos Art Gallery. “With the holiday season upon us, we were grateful to have the opportunity to host an exhibit of this nature,” said Violeta Chinni, the owner of Niàbos Art Gallery. “In many ways, Jason Kaufman’s work will be reflective of the year 2013 in terms of national and international news events. Without a doubt in my mind, this exhibit will be a thought-provoking experience for all visitors,” said Chinni.
Furthermore, hosting the exhibit at Niàbos Art Gallery holds a special meaning for Kaufman. Niàbos Art was previously called Kenosis Gallery for Experimental Art, founded in 2009 by Kaufman and his wife Jennifer Lucas. “For this reason, I refer to this exhibition as a ‘Homecoming’ event,” said Chinni.
The exhibition “In My Own Weiwei: Activism, Art, and Political Apathy,” will take place on Nov. 23 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Niàbos Art Gallery, 14 South Park Street, Mansfield, OH. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.niabosartgallery.com.
