Written by Lisset Rojo Ramirez
When walking throughout the city streets of Atlanta, it can be easy to overlook life. By life, I mean people. Strangers just living their daily lives apart from me and my bubble of Agnes Scott College. People with families, dreams, and thoughts existing two steps from where I am. It can be hard to think of strangers as human beings sometimes. When going out and about, the only thing on my mind is getting from point A to point B as fast as I can. I don’t plan or even think about getting to know such strangers in my community. In reflecting city art, I have come to notice what I have haven’t noticed before.
Jordan Casteel’s projects reflect what I have missed on my trips into the city. The subjects of her work display the life of individuals with a story to tell. Their stories, hidden in New York City, become displayed within four white gallery walls. Whenever one sees an individual on the street, one can assume their story, their identity, the reason they’re on the street in the first place, but does one ever just ask them? Someone once told me, if you don’t know then just ask. Very simple, right? Just ask. Jordan’s photographic paintings encompass the questions we should be asking. Away from the streets, one is presented with such images abruptly and confronted with with the realization that the world is much bigger and denser than previously perceived. I am reminded of Rick Warren, the author of A Purpose Driven Life, when he opened the first chapter with “It’s not about you.” In modern times, we get engulfed in our own situations and our own lives, but a true mindful traveler would find meaning in other things. Much like how an artist views artwork, finding meaning within each paint stroke or pencil marking, we, as traveling students, should also find hidden meanings in our journeys. Having that kind of perspective is a fundamental gift that will set us apart from the rest of the world and the rest of the people who are unable to find the hidden messages. However, when in possession of such gift, whether the streets are present or not should not really matter, the global perspective should be present.
Jordan’s artwork
Ai Weiwei displays his works in a similar manner. His cages, the cages of the world, bring about questioning. It is difficult to think of something other than what is presented in front of you. The bright orange and reflecting silver pinpoint the exact area you should be looking at. There could be many interpretations, race, class, wealth, but what I gather most is the separation of people based on pre-perceived thoughts about a certain area.