Art21 - Art in the 21st Century Season 5 Episode 1 Compassion

In the first episode of season five of Art21 - Art in the 21st Century, titled "Compassion," the focus is on artists who explore themes of empathy, care, and generosity in their work. These artists use a diverse array of mediums, from painting to sculpture, installation, and performance, to create works that address pressing social issues and engage with audiences on a deep emotional level.

The episode features four artists: Doris Salcedo, Carrie Mae Weems, William Kentridge, and David Altmejd. Each artist shares their unique perspective on how art can serve as a means to promote compassion and connection in a world that often seems divided and fractured.

Doris Salcedo is a Colombian-born artist known for her large-scale installations that explore themes of memory and loss. In the episode, she speaks about her work 'A Flor de Piel,' which was created in response to the violent deaths of women in her home country. The installation consists of a wall of tightly woven rose petals, which she views as a metaphor for the fragility of life and the need for empathy and compassion towards those who have suffered.

Carrie Mae Weems is an American artist who uses photography, video, and performance to explore issues of race, gender, and power. In the episode, she discusses her series 'From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried,' which features archival photographs from the 19th century depicting enslaved people. Weems overlays text and creates a narrative to allow the subjects of the photographs to speak for themselves, challenging viewers to confront the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

William Kentridge is a South African artist who works in a variety of mediums, including drawing, printmaking, and animation. He speaks in the episode about his use of animation to address themes of social justice and political turmoil in his home country. His work '10 Drawings for Projection' tells the story of a fictional character named Soho Eckstein, a wealthy white South African businessman whose life is changed by the end of apartheid.

David Altmejd is a Canadian artist known for his intricate sculptures and installations that explore themes of transformation and metamorphosis. In the episode, he discusses his sculpture 'The Flux and the Puddle,' which features a large translucent figure covered in crystals and surrounded by smaller figures that appear to be emerging from its body. The sculpture is meant to convey a sense of regeneration and the potential for new life emerging from chaos and destruction.

Throughout the episode, these four artists provide a powerful testament to the transformative power of art to promote compassion, understanding, and connection in a world that often seems divided and fragmented. By grappling with complex social issues and engaging with audiences on an emotional level, they make the case for art as a vital tool for social change and meaningful connection.