The jam-packed nature of art fairs means even incredibly strong works often get little more than a moment’s look in. Amidst the 10-second-wonder booths of Art Basel, we were pleased to find a single artist exhibit that held our attention for the duration, at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects.
From afar, Andrea Bowers #sweetjane appears to be a simple comment on modern technology and youth communication – which in some ways, it is. Large, blue rectangles are wall mounted on three walls of the booth, covered with the instantly recognisable white font of messenger conversations. The text is perfectly straight and uniform, which is a technical feat in itself as these are all produced by hand.
On closer inspection the youthful, one-line messages reveal themselves to be the stomach-turning, real life conversations between a rape victim and her two perpetrators. Bowers sat in on the 2012 Steubenville, Ohio court case, in which two high school boys dragged an unconscious teenage girl around various parties and houses, subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults. These were filmed and photographed by onlookers, and these photographs were later sent around to those involved.
Bowers has copied the evidenced messages word for word and the exhibit documents the progression of events from start to finish. The lack of empathy from both boys involved and the subsequent cover up are ghastly, and the combination of this content with the lighthearted feel of modern messaging is very powerful.
Elephant has been enjoying the many frivolous moments that Basel has to offer, but this political work really gripped us. A gallery well worth visiting if you’re in town.
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, 6006 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, United States
Images: Courtesy of Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects; Robert Wedemeyer. Installed dimensions variable. Gallery Inventory #BOW386
