Clouds
Clouds
By Rozalyn Hardy, Grace Connor, Emily Prevost, Joana Palma, Aria Cheng
Clouds is meant as a primarily visual experience, while also speaking to the current political and social situation. Using bright colours in an attempt to draw viewers out of the station for closer examination, it also references the art of the 1960s and consequent advertising. Pink is given a prominent spot, as well as being the only cloud with text,“YES”, referencing the struggle, hope and search for positivity of the recent women’s march and the inspirational work of Yoko Ono. The remaining clouds are painted in the original queer pride flag, but in subdued tones related to the co-opted counterculture imagery of the 1960s, especially the magazine work of Seymour Chwast and Antonio Lopéz.
The piece asks, Are we going to keep fighting? Or do we continue to do we graze the surface, keep our heads down and carry on with capitalist actions? Although the focus of the work is a direct response to an increasingly troubled political climate, Clouds presents as a pleasant visual experience. It is open and accessible to everyone, whether or not you have access to the histories it is inspired by. It aims to provide some pleasure on a commute in a city and culture that is increasingly difficult for those working to live and stay here.
