Florida State University’s Museum of Fine Arts will present a new exhibition, “Like everything alive that we try to hold forever,” from January 29 through June 27. The exhibition explores the relationship between people and the objects they collect, keep, and carry.
An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, January 29 at 5:30 p.m. Kaylee Spencer, director of the museum, said, “This exhibit is an incredibly thought-provoking show, bringing work from internationally-renowned artists to the Tallahassee community — we hope you won’t miss the chance to enjoy it while it’s here.”
The exhibition is curated by Elizabeth Diggon, Naomi Potter, and Shauna Thompson of Esker Foundation and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI) in partnership with Esker Foundation in Calgary. It features works from seven artists who examine connections between human bodies and non-human objects using photography, sculpture, and video.
Participating artists include Larry Achiampong & David Blandy from England; Diane Borsato from Canada; Stephanie Dinkins from New York; Bridget Moser from Toronto; Sondra Perry from New Jersey; and Miya Turnbull from Halifax.
According to a curatorial statement provided by the organizers: “These relationships are complex and interconnected, showing us how the systematic collection, consumption and contextualization of objects impacts our understanding of self and others. By drawing parallels between the legacy of archaeology, colonialism, the potential of artificial intelligence, digital technologies and the ever-blurring line between the self and the other, this exhibit seeks to thread the complex reality of the human experience. Some artists conduct their exploration from an internal perspective, studying issues of identity, likeness and self-authorship. Others reckon with the role of imposed knowledge systems in defining what is (and isn’t) human, addressing the biases and harms that are often entrenched within systems and collections under the guise of neutrality.”
Throughout its run at MoFA—which is part of Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts—the museum will host a series of events related to themes explored in this exhibition. Admission to both exhibits and events is free for all visitors. More information can be found on mofa.fsu.edu.
“Like everything alive that we try to hold forever” was organized by Esker Foundation as a traveling show produced by ICI. Funding support comes from ICI’s International Forum as well as its Board of Trustees.
Independent Curators International (ICI) works globally with curators through programs such as The Curatorial Intensive—a professional development initiative launched in 2010 that has supported over 500 curators across more than 25 cities worldwide.
Esker Foundation operates as a non-profit contemporary art gallery based in Calgary since May 2012. Founded by Jim and Susan Hill with an aim to make contemporary art accessible through free admission programs for exhibitions and public events.
