This writing analyzes the exhibitions significance and the curatorial processes that helped shape it.
The 2021 Triennial “Soft Water Hard Stone” was curated by Margot Norton and Jamillah James. They wanted to do an intensive search to find their artists. They mentioned seeking out international artists and going to cities that aren’t usually searched in. They made sure to select artists carefully and listen to their voices. This means they really got to know them, and got a good feel for their style, attitude, and passions. They were looking for artists that were emerging and really wanted to showcase different styles and submissions from the artists.
Exhibition view: 2021 Triennial, Soft Water Hard Stone, 2021. New Museum, New York. Photo: Dario Lasagni
One of the biggest challenges faced by the curators is having to put together an international show during COVID-19. The pandemic made everything so complicated and having to coordinate, collaborate, and present things.
This exhibition reflected the time in which it was made because most of the artists were in a close age category. This was not intentional, but it did work out this way. This really made it a “generational” exhibit.
They described the themes of the exhibition as creative chaos. Using unorthodox materials helped create this theme of chaos. The “value of definitiveness” was explored. This leads to a theme of adaptability and change. They had a lot of works that would divide the exhibition and transform throughout the time there. So, there was a constant change in certain works that created interesting and subtle differences in the work as time progressed.
2021 Triennial: Soft Water Hard Stone, 2021. Exhibition view: New Museum, New York. Photo: Dario Lasagni