Artist and gallerist Tyler Gibney spoke to VSCO at his Los Angeles gallery HVW8 about the exhibition “Anxiety” (Nov 4 – Dec 16), a group show he curated with Laura Watters that sought to address “the unnerving tension of the strange climate of present day.” The theme of the show would prove to be even more relevant as the US and the world reacted to the new era that was ushered in on November 8th. Following the election, works in the show resonated with further levels of meaning — Cali Thornhill DeWitt’s opioids and Earths installation, Brendan Lynch’s tribute tee to Eric Garner (which the artist had worn across a two-year span), and Gibney’s own “Gun America” mural painted large on the side of the building. Gibney has a history of organizing work that intersects with politics and social issues, most notably, “The Art of a Political Revolution — Artists for Bernie Sanders” earlier in 2016. And in this vignette, Gibney offers his views on the gallery’s role, and responsibility, in providing the needed context for the crucial position that artists play in offering perspectives on the pressing issues of our times.
Video by Wilson Cameron
Link to VSCO site HERE