Zoom In: Who Are We?
Video conferencing software has fundamentally changed how we work and socialize. The technology connects us to new ideas and empowers us to create across boundaries. However, it also exposes us as isolated individuals and forces us to acknowledge the limitations of our humanity. Though experiences and opinions regarding virtual communication vary, it is undoubtedly an integral part of modern culture that will continue to shape our lives and how we relate to one another.
As we face rapid technological change, it can be easy to forget that modern challenges can be met with non-technical solutions. Technology’s lens masks the full spectrum of human possibility, much like a background filter masks the depth of a person’s environment. How does a technical lens limit our understanding? What happens when we interrogate the 16:9 boxes we have created? If we could contact the past, using our favorite videoconferencing software, what could our forebears tell us about the path ahead? What can we learn from zooming in on their surroundings?
Members of the Women’s Caucus for Art are invited to answer these questions in a special initiative to educate the public about prominent figures within our organization. Select artists will create “Zoom style” 16:9 portraits that reflect the personalities and accomplishments of Lifetime Achievement Award honorees. Each member will be assigned a name at random and provided with WCA resources to develop a research-based portrait of their historical figure. Collected portraits will be displayed as if the subjects are participating in a video conference, prompting viewers to reflect on how technology shapes our perceptions of time, place, and each other.
Click the link for the full prospectus and description of the project.