Further explore the exhibition’s theme of semi-visibility through a slow-looking exercise related to this work.

Transcript
Narrator: WangShui’s enormous work on aluminum, "Ambiguous Congress," is from 2023. It features three large sheets of aluminum placed side-by-side, making one large triptych. Each panel is about 4 feet by 8 feet. The central panel is oriented vertically, while the two panels on either side are oriented horizontally. In all, the placement of the three panels flush beside each other makes the work overall about 20 feet wide and 8 feet tall.

The shiny aluminum features markings and etchings across its entire surface, which catch the light and reveal various elements of the work. The subtle etchings, some done by machine and others by hand, give the impression of soft smoke or haze. The glinting etched lines across the surface are so delicate at points that they appear like drawn pencil lines. Oil paint is also worked into the surface in some places. For instance, purple paint in particular is carefully smeared across the surface to mark hazy edges of forms, which almost seem to dissolve.

It takes moving closer, changing position, and experiencing different light conditions to notice forms appearing. Because shifting views reveal or hide various aspects, the etchings themselves have a mirage-like quality that evokes hallucinations or illusions. At first glance, it appears as if there are two stuffed couches facing each other on the left and right panels, each with buttons forming a quilted surface. The two couches are depicted in three-dimensional perspective, making them appear to move away from us in space; they dominate the center of the left and right panels vertically. Upon closer deciphering, these couches are two large arms or sectionals of an enormous U-shaped couch—its central sectional running horizontally along the bottom edge of all three panels. The viewer is positioned as if sitting on the central sectional, with the edge of the couch’s seat cushion visible. It’s as if we are part of this ambiguous congress.

Etchings form a snakelike entity curving around and across the three panels. It blends under and into the couch. Either the entity, the couch, or both are spirit-like; they pass through and weave in and out of each other. Etched on the central panel, placed in the upper center, is a large glowing, diamond-shaped form filled with tiny, wavering, and delicate parallel line etchings, visually evoking the movement of a field of blowing grasses.

"Ambiguous Congress" depicts, in part, a scene from a live simulation in which surreal narratives and forms were generated by AI. This barely-there, dreamlike scene evokes liminal spaces between the conscious and subconscious.

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