Before The Sun

Karthik Pandian 2010

My initial reaction when I walked into the gallery was confusion, I was one of the first to arrive so I didn’t know if this was the gallery or not... it was dark, cold, and a little creepy, not having known we were in the right place. The sounds were very unpleasing, and made me feel like I was in an old horror movie. After realizing we were standing in the gallery, I really tried to understand what was going on. In the east and west corners of the room there were reels of tape playing a sunrise, and a sunset. While trying to observe everything, I found myself awkwardly trying to maneuver my way around a giant two step platform in the middle of the room, which was very difficult in the dark. There are so many elements to this composition, it’s hard to take it all in especially in a dark area. Once you enter the gallery, it’s like and experience or environment that Pandian is putting you in, and I found it impossible not to interact in someway with the piece after walking in the room.

Before the sun installation by Karthik Pandian

The first things I noticed about the installation were that it was dark, and 2 films were being projected in the corners of the room. A four-sided block made of mud or packed earth was in the middle of the room and loud noises that sounded like dogs barking played in the background. 2 glass boxes standing up out of the mud block,that it took me a minute to realize were projecting the films. The films made me think of being tired first because I was in the dark and 2^nd because the people in the film all looked tired, they seemed to be dragging as they walked. The room was dirty, I could feel the dirt under my feet, and the whole room smelled like dust.

I would not have made the connection with mounds or ancient architecture without being told. I learned that the mud block or plaza was supposed to represent the Cahokia Mounds in St.Louis IL, built by Native Americans. I was interested to find out that the installation was lined up with the path of the sun, just like the largest of the Cahokia mounds, and that we were seeing films of a sunrise and sunset. Perhaps that’s why I thought of being tired or going to sleep.

http://www.midwayart.org/

Why is it so dark in here?

Before the Sun

2010

Karthik Pandian

When walking into Karthik Pandian's exhibit at the Midway, my first thought was why is it dark in here? and that was soon fallowed by, crap I'm going to trip over something. Why were those the first things to pop into my head when I walked into Pandian's exhibit, because as part of his artwork being showed at the midway were two videos. Playing in opposite corners (yes in the actual corners) of the room were two videos, each showing a different loop of video.

One of the videos showed pictures of a sunset and people walking across the screen, this is the video that caught my attention the most. For me looking at the people walking across the screen I got the sense of time passing, and I started thinking that the noise playing in the gallery was some sort of scraping sound. Of course this is not what Pandian meant at all when he created this piece of artwork. And once the artists meaning behind the artwork was described to me, I understood everything presented much better.

Yes I understood why it was dark, and why there was a big block in the middle of the room, and the reason for the noises that were being played. Do you think you will understand right away? Can you pick out what noise makes a distinct popping sound on the soundtrack? You might just have to go and see for yourself, because not matter how well I describe Pandians artwork, experiencing it for yourself is so much better.

Below is a link for the Midway.

http://www.midwayart.org/

Before The Sun

Before The Sun
2010
Karthik Pandian
Medium: Two Channel looping 16mm film installation with optical sound, rammed earth, shells, mirrorpane glass and mason's line


When I was first told we would be visiting an art gallery, of course I expected white walls with paintings, photographs etc. But, when we arrived at the gallery and walked inside it was pitch black. When you step inside the gallery you are drawn to the only light source which is two projections being displayed. As you watch the films you see the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, but as you watch them you are stricken with a feeling that you are setting foot on another world.

As you look to the center of the room there is a plaza where the two projectors are resting. If you touch the plaza you will notice that it has a grainy feeling and it is crumbly. It gives an earthy feeling. The atmosphere gives you a sense that you are actually at the site of the film. At first I was confused as to what the film was about, but after we were educated on it things made more sense. The creator, Karthik Pandian has a love for archeology and the film took place at an archeological dig at the Cahokia Mounds in St. Louis. These mounds were used for spiritual purposes by Native Americans. After knowing that and watching the films again you feel more of a connection to the pieces.

Dark...Cold...Damp...Color?

If I said, "it smells like the beach."

Would you be interested?

I was recently at the Midway Contemporary Art Center and experienced something like never before.

I walked in and immediately my eyes had to adjust. To my right, a counter with a vinyl record player and two sets of headphones. Further in (on the right) two tables, one that led into the offices, and one off to the side. Three lamps lit up the area. The counter had plenty of vinyl records to choose from. Up for a quick guessing game? The vinyl record player was playing a song over and over. The game? Guess what is being said. Now, I am not at all a good guesser. But even I had fun trying to guess what was being said. Aside from the right of the entrance, I walked into what seemed a dark, cold, damp, and somewhat loud room. In that room (quite large to be exact), were what looked to be, two movies playing. Short films really; of what? Well...take a look for yourself. Watching these films, I felt like Curious George. I instantly wanted to learn more. I wanted to somehow climb into the film and ask: where was the location of the films? why were they made? who made them? why are people not noticing the camera(s)? why two films, why not one?

The exhibit was an art form in itself. The display is something to be seen.

"It smells like a beach."

Now picturing a beach, I picture: half naked people, beach volleyball, water, and maybe one crazy local.

What does that have to do with the Midway? Well, that my friends is something you will have to see for yourselves.

http://www.midwayart.org/

xoxo,

KP (and RO)

Before The Sun

Karthik Pandian 2010

When walking into the Midway Art Gallery, you get the feeling you walked into the wrong place, seeing as it is very dark and very cold . When you walk more into the dark area, all you can hear is noise without being able to see where it's coming from or what's around you. as your eyes begin to adjust, you see two projectors on a big platform that takes up almost all the space in the room. Once all of your senses come back to you, the noise is the video being projected from two glass mirrors filled with sand on top of the platform pointed at the corners of the room. The noise started to make more sense once you watch the video of the sun set and sun rise and see the people making noise while they walked. After fully seeing the exhibition, you can't help but wonder why Pandian decided to make the exhibit like he did or why he decided to make the back noise as loud as he did. All in all, when I looked at this exhibit, I felt as if the sun was taking away every worry I had at that moment.

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