Dahn Gim, "Erin" (From the series "Names I Had You Call Me"), 2018, Leather covered muffler, Courtesy the artist
“Mis/Communication: Language and Power in Contemporary Art” features video, sculpture, drawing, and interactive media artworks by 16 contemporary artists who explore the power of language in an array of cultural contexts. Through diverse styles and approaches, the artworks address topics such as the global dominance of English, the colonial legacies embedded in languages, and socially marginalized linguistic practices.
The exhibition originated at the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, Stony Brook University, where it won the 2020 SUNY Prize for Performance, Creation and Curation. It has now been expanded for the Dorsky Museum.
“After touring four SUNY campuses, I'm thrilled that ‘Mis/Communication’ is coming to The Dorsky for a special, expanded iteration that includes several more emerging and mid-career artists,” said Guest Curator Amy Kahng. “I'm excited for visitors to see the show and consider the power dynamics and colonial histories intrinsic to language.”
“Mis/Communication” features work by Carmen Argote, Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, Jesse Chun, Jisoo Chung, Dahn Gim, Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho, dulce soledad ibarra, Angelina Joshua and Jake Duczynski, Gala Porras Kim, Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader, Benjamin Lundberg Torres Sánchez, Kim Schoen, Clarissa Tossin, and Han Yohan.
These artists explore linguistic forms and traditions including speech, writing, American Sign Language, performative body language, and artificial intelligence voice recognition programs. They confront topics like the assimilation pressures faced by English as a Second Language learners, the erasure of indigenous languages, and the privileging of certain forms of communication over others.