Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla

Allora and Guillermo are two artists who have embraced the recent globalization of art. Both artists are from profoundly different backgrounds: Allora is form Pennsylvania, Guillermo from Havana, Cuba. The two artists approach art as a set of experiments, and their works are a hybrid of various mediums. For instance, their work "Clamor" combines war music from a range of cultures. The work has music from the American Civil War to the traditional war music of Chile and Russia. In attempting to reveal how music can be used as a weapon, these two artists have combined the traditions of various regions of the world. Another work, "Under Discussion," creates a powerful political message. The work refers to the civil disobedience movement of Vieques, Puerto Rico. In the work, a table floats amidst a calm ocean. The table represents a discussion table, referring to the discussions that occurred during the disobedience movement. People often discussed the island's political situation, but such discussions never seemed to lead anywhere. Thus, Guillermo and Allora "mobilize" the discussion table by placing it upside down, as a boat, and attaching a motor to the back. Though this work refers specifically to the political movement within Vieques, the work can be a symbol for political discussions throughout the world. These political discussions often go nowhere because not everyone is involved within them.


-Tina