Immersive Journeys: From Steel Giants to Digital Meadows

Hi Friends,

This week’s issue kicks off with an homage to Richard Serra, whose steel giants offer more than just an artistic statement. The narrative then strolls through the technicolor dream that is Mercer Labs. Finally, it lands in a field of digital poppies by Michal Rovner, a place where beauty and sorrow collide. I hope you enjoy it!

Serra’s Immersive Legacies

One of the clearest memories I have of my child as a toddler was watching her navigate the grand expanse of the three Richard Serra sculptures on permanent display at DIA Beacon. The stark contrast between the monumental stillness and scale of these works and her lively, unsteady gait created an unforgettable image in my mind.

Richard Serra died a couple of weeks ago. He was known for creating art that was as immersive as a nosedive into the deep end of a pool. The guy had a way of making you feel both anchored and slightly off-kilter. To say Serra's sculptures play havoc with your sense of balance is to put it mildly. These (often winding) structures invite you into a physical dialogue with the space they inhabit. They command your attention with their sheer size, but it's the way they warp your perception of space and movement that sticks to your ribs.

To stand beside—or inside—one of his pieces is to engage in a silent conversation about the nature of permanence and our place in the world. It's a dialogue underscored by the temporal against the seemingly immutable, the human body navigating around these immovable steel behemoths. Yet, despite their steadfastness, there's a fluidity to Serra's work, a poetry in the steel curves, undulating and unending. It’s as if he’s saying, “Yes, everything is solid and serious, but also, it’s not.” And now, with his passing, we're left to wander these metal labyrinths, our balance forever challenged.

Richard Serra's legacy is not just in the physical works he's left scattered across the globe, but in the ways he's forever altered our approach to experiencing art. He taught us to embrace the disorientation, to find our footing amidst the uncertainty, and to understand that balance—whether in art or in life—is not about standing still but about moving through the world with intention, curiosity, and a bit of a wobble.

Digital Wonderlands

A couple of weeks ago, in a burst of what I'll call "parental enlightenment," I took my kid (now 6) to a digital art installation in downtown Manhattan known as Mercer Labs. She was over the moon, engaging with everything with great enthusiasm.

Immersive art has surged in popularity over recent years, captivating audiences worldwide and transforming the traditional boundaries between the art and the observer.

I find it a fascinating genre. One that invites viewers to step inside the frame and become a part of the work itself. But what exactly is it about immersive art that holds such a wide appeal?

The importance of immersive art seems to lie in its ability to break down the walls between the art and its audience, inviting a more personal interaction. Unlike traditional art forms, where observers maintain a physical distance from the work, immersive art envelops the viewer in its narrative, colors, textures, and sounds.

For children, the appeal of immersive art takes on an additional dimension. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital interfaces, immersive art offers a tangible, multi-sensorial experience that can engage them on multiple levels. It's an opportunity for kinetic learning, where movement and exploration lead to discovery. Children, with their boundless curiosity and zest for exploration (and incredible amounts of energy), find immersive art particularly enchanting. It speaks to their innate desire to touch, move, and interact, making art appreciation an active rather than passive experience.

It is clear that immersive art transcends traditional viewing experiences. It turns art appreciation into a more dynamic process, one that can be particularly impactful for children.

A Digital Field of Poppies

Since we’re all currently riding the high wave of art-as-an-immersive-experience, I’m going to point you in the direction of Pace Gallery. Until April 18, you can step into Michal Rovner's show, Pragim—Hebrew for "Poppies"—where the wild poppies of her Israeli field bloom through prints, video, and installations. Since 2019, Rovner has chronicled these flowers, weaving a narrative that balances the beauty of nature with the shadows of ongoing conflict, infusing her work with tones that reflect themes of loss and resilience—even offering a poignant reflection on the complexities of existence and coexistence. Michal Rovner, “Pragim”

I’ll see you next week!

Pato