Rivers and Art

Last week, back in NYC, M. and I went to the Georgia O'Keeffe and Roni Horn exhibits at the Whitney. I am drawn to the indescribable colors of O'Keeffe, and the intellectualism of Horn. The O'Keeffe installation consisted of her more abstract work, less flowers, more more more...A woman I met recently told me she loves O'Keeffe, not least because all those vaginas turn her on. Though not explicitly publicized, Horn can be found listed as a lesbian or queer woman artist. Were the curators intentional in this pairing?

I was very impressed by Horn's work. Strangely enough, this exhibit was at the Tate Modern while I was living in Oxford last year. Though I passed by, twice I think, I never went in as it cost extra to see the special exhibit. I now wish I had seen it! Since I did associate this exhibit with my time in Oxford and London, it was bittersweet for me; this deep yearning to be back there, down in my gut. My favorite piece by Horn, a series of close-up photographs of sections of the water in the Thames, entitled "Still Water (The River Thames, for example)". Each photograph contained footnote numbers in the water, in shadows, in waves, its movement and stillness; these corresponded to thoughts and questions written below the photo. I think I could have stayed looking and reading for hours. The whole exhibit, entitled Roni Horn a.k.a. Roni Horn, dealt with explorations, questions and feelings towards identity, experience, relationships.

The Thames River. The Hudson.
Identities of rivers, the people who live on them.

At this very moment, where you are is the very center of the world.


(Photo from Roni Horn at the Whitney here)