Shana Nys Dambrot
With its title referencing the commodification of the female body and unhealthy “idealization,” which projects dysfunctional notions of beauty onto individuals and society, the new video art installation project “Women in Windows” proves that sometimes the simplest conceptual gesture can spark a powerful paradigm shift.
The title is also quite literal, as the project sees the video work of six American artists, women of color with international roots, installed on large video monitors across the eccentric storefronts of historic Chinatown plaza-street Chung King Road. Playing on street-facing monitors and looping 24/7 with both subtitles and QR codes linking to synced audio, works by Alima Lee, Arshia Fatima Haq, Gazelle Samizay, Jasdeep Kang, Muna Malik and Yumna Al-Arashi create a mysterious and sophisticated experience of compelling, beautiful and symbol-rich video art.
“Women in Windows” is produced and curated by Zehra Ahmed and is supported by Automata, Chungking Studio, General Lee’s, Imprint Projects, the Institute for Art and Olfaction, Lisa Derrick Fine Arts, Poetic Research Bureau, Preen Inc. and Press Friends.
The videos remain on view through Sunday, March 17, with a public reception on Saturday, March 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. headquartered at Chungking Studio, 975 Chung King Road, and coinciding with several new gallery exhibitions opening throughout the block.
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