ARTIST MEETS THE ROAD
This idea came to me from my art tour of cities, towns and villages around the world. This work evokes my feelings and observations along my path through life which has been an eye opening and fairy tale like. The road led me to the heart of many countries and linked me with its generations, cultures, and landscapes. People from all walks of life use the road regardless of our social status and within my work there is a happiness of sharing the road with all.
My vision is to pave a road inside the gallery space by employing every day materials and simple technique. The entire floor that stretches 43 x 34 feet and will be compacted with a roller making the appearance of the road. This project seeks to bring an outdoor environment into a confined space. This simple shift of perspective provides us with a unique synthesis of outdoor and indoor environments.
We see the movement of people simply as crowds yet on a deeper level it is the circulation of personalities, strong emotions and feelings coursing through the veins of the streets and alleys making a city vibrant and lively. I am interested in untold stories and the poetry of sudden encounters. Individuals are the exchangers of smiles; they are agents and promoters of cultural positivity, our companions in humanity. When we open up to those around us, we open up to infinite possibilities of our lives that shape our lives. With this in mind, the project aims to open a literal ground to the metaphorical possibilities we may encounter on the roads. The piece serves as a freeway to convey our experiences representing the human struggles and psychological drama of life’s many twists and turns.
Usually, we are more self-conscious in art spaces; we move slowly, we revolve and pause. This work invites all sensory expressions: we can walk swiftly, sense, touch and be ourselves. People can move freely across the gallery space, the person to person in-situ forms an engagement. The translation of this kinaesthetic expression into visual language lingers inside the gallery becoming another form of visual expression.
I might put up sign posts pointing in different directions, providing countless paths to choose from. It pokes gently on humanity’s curious nature and also suggests that everyone has a unique path to walk. In endless subtle ways the signpost sends the message of hope and courage to move forward into the unknown.
This idea submitted to Locust Gallery in Miami, was shortlisted and chosen for further review by the Artists Review Committee, and Exhibitions and Programming Director.
Dear Milan, your project was selected from a strong group of submissions by local, national, and international artists.We greatly appreciate the time, energy and hard work represented by each proposal, and are excited to consider your project in greater detail.We thank you again for your interest in exhibiting at Locust Projects and congratulate you on reaching this stage of the review.
Yours sincerely ElizabethShannon Exhibitions and Programming Director
