Event 2 Blog

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    On Wednesday, May 16th, I attended the UCLA DMA 2024 Masters of Fine Arts Exhibition Opening called Love Machines. Not only was each piece tremendously unique and thought-provoking but they were also installations unlike anything I'd ever seen before. As you enter the exhibition, you are welcomed with sounds, lights, and people greeting you. The first installation that caught my eye was Jules Johnston's "Touch(ing) Screen Workshop." Johnston's installation highlights the ideas of phone usage and how iPhones can assist and disadvantage society. 

    While all the installation pieces tie into our class in one way or another, the art piece that not only caught my attention the most but also got me thinking about topics we talked about in class was Chung Xu's "Wet Floor" exhibit. Xu's installation featured four caution wet floor signs connected to wheels, equipped with little squirt guns that periodically squirt the floor. As I talked to Xu, he informed me that not only did he engineer and code these caution signs, but he also engineered the robots to be restricted to only a certain part of the floor in the installation room.



    This piece caught my eye due to the irony and absurdity of it. At its core, Xu's installation plays with the viewer's expectations of familiar objects. Caution wet floor signs are universally recognized both in public and private spaces and in most places are legally required by the law. By animating these signs and giving them the agency to create the very hazard they warn against, Xu subverts their intended purpose. 
    Additionally, the installation provokes thought about the role of technology in modern life. It encourages students to critically assess how technology influences not only art but also everything in our daily lives. It raises the question of whether technology is going to become so efficient and powerful that we will automate everything, even tasks or objects that do not necessarily require technology. 
    In conclusion, the exhibit was eye-opening in many ways. Each artist shared their own talents and some even shared their life stories through their art. I would definitely recommend people attend if there is another opening!





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