Ep 1. Place

In the first episode of Art in the Twenty-First Century season 1, titled "Place," viewers are introduced to four artists who explore the concept of place in their work. Through interviews with the artists, footage of their creative process, and shots of their finished works, the episode invites viewers to consider how we relate to the spaces around us and how those spaces shape our experiences.

The first artist featured is Richard Serra, a sculptor known for his large-scale, minimalist works that often invite viewers to move through them. Serra discusses the importance of site-specificity in his work, noting that he sees his sculptures as interventions in the built environment that ask viewers to reconsider their relationship to the space around them. Viewers are treated to shots of Serra's massive sculptures, which seem to dwarf the human figures moving through them.

Next up is Julie Mehretu, a painter who creates intricate, layered compositions that often reference the urban environments in which she lives and works. Mehretu talks about how her process involves building up and then erasing layers of paint, a metaphor for the ways in which cities are constructed and constantly in flux. Viewers are treated to shots of Mehretu at work, wielding her paintbrush with precise movements to create her complex, multi-layered paintings.

The third artist featured is Sally Mann, a photographer who is known for her haunting, intimate portraits of her family and the landscape around her Virginia farm. Mann talks about the ways in which the landscape has shaped her work, both in terms of the physical environment and the cultural history of the South. Viewers are treated to shots of Mann's large-format photographs, which capture the lush greenery and dilapidated architecture of the rural South with equal beauty.

The final artist featured is Margaret Kilgallen, a painter and graffiti artist who was known for her hand-painted signs, murals, and other public art projects. Kilgallen talks about how she finds inspiration in the vernacular art of everyday life, from hand-painted signs to quilts to tattoos. Viewers are treated to shots of Kilgallen at work on a mural, wielding a paintbrush with fluid, confident strokes, as well as shots of some of her finished works that capture the spirit of her DIY, anti-authoritarian ethos.

Throughout "Place," viewers are encouraged to see the ways in which these artists are shaping and reshaping our understanding of the spaces around us. Whether through large-scale sculpture, layered paintings, intimate portraits, or public art projects, each artist demonstrates the power of art to transform our sense of place and to help us see the world in new and unexpected ways.

Overall, "Place" is a thought-provoking introduction to Art in the Twenty-First Century, offering a glimpse into the wide-ranging approaches and techniques of contemporary artists and the themes that drive their work. With its engaging mix of interviews, process shots, and finished works, the episode invites viewers to contemplate the ways in which art can help us understand and engage with the spaces we inhabit.