Why Red?

June 2017, Stanford CA, USA. Installation, durational performance. Glass, spotlight, gelatin filters, colored acrylic, books, furniture. Part of the MFA graduation exhibition, Department of Art and Art History, Stanford University.

Download the MFA thesis and catalogue of books on red that were part of the exhibition.

Why Red? (excerpt from the thesis)

Red Flag, Red Alert, Red Light
Red Blood, Red Herring, Red Thread
Red Carpet, Red Neck, Red Hand
Red Face, Red Book, Red Line
Red Tape, Red Hot
In The Red
Seeing Red, Republican Red, Cardinal Red
Red Letter Day
Red is the first chromatic color name in languages.
Heat red glass till it breaks

Why Red?

Tools of interpretation provide endless possibilities for creating worlds of meaning for Red, explaining Red, tracing Red’s history through ages, linking metaphors, cultures and nature with the Red-lit gallery wall. Add to this the multitude of cultural and scientific aspects of color in general and the possibilities become infinite. But I do agree with Susan Sontag in that the interpretation will forever serve the need of the interpreter, and I am not in need here, certainly not in need for alternative worlds – this one has quite enough material to work with.

Why Red? Why glass? Why heat? Why break? Why gallery?
Art is an event. Art is a space, mediator and attractor.
Color is an event. Color is a space, mediator and attractor.
Red is an event. Red is a space, mediator and attractor.

“What is the meaning of red?” the blind miniaturist who’d drawn the horse from memory asked again.
“The meaning of color is that it is there before us and we see it,” said the other.
“Red cannot be explained to he who cannot see.”

(Quote from: Orhan Pamuk, My Name Is Red)