“Taking Sides” At Paddle8 Curated By Robin Williams And Featuring Jenny Holzer, AJ Fosik, And More
Online art marketplace and exhibition space Paddle8 will host “Taking Sides,” a web-only exhibition curated by actor Robin Williams and his son, gallerist Zak Williams, from September 21st through October 25th. The Williamses share a passion for military and political history as well as for contemporary art. “Taking Sides” addresses the roles of war, violence, authority and politics in contemporary art and includes perspectives from artists around the globe, including Iraq, Iran, Israel, China, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Great Britain, the U.S., Canada and others. Artists include Jannane Al-Ani, Marcel Dzama, AJ Fosik, Ori Gersht, Adam Helms, Jenny Holzer, Scott King, Feng Mengbo, Eko Nugroho, Robert Lazzarini, Trevor Paglen, Hesam Rahmanian, Michael Rakowitz, Raqs Media Collective, Seher Shah, John Wesley and Aaron Young, among others.
Robin Williams says, “This exhibition is a way to examine the way contemporary artists consider our current understanding of war as it has been packaged and marketed through mediation of pop culture and mass media.” Zak Williams adds, “Many feel that the utility of force and the utility of art lie on opposite ends of the spectrum. I disagree and think the need to create and the compulsion to destroy are within every man, woman and child.”
