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Image (above):
Sunandini Banerjee,
Untitled
, 2015, Digital collage on archival paper.
religion, a different background, a different age,
and in a different era, at a time when India did not
even have its independence yet. For us it was just
so incredibly exciting to see people explore that.
What do you hope visitors to Following the Box
take away from their experience?
Alan:
I hope they take away that pictures are
not dead. That they have stories. We found these
photographs at an estate sale, in a shoe box. What
I like to say is that stories, great stories, lie hidden
everywhere, all around us in garage sales and in
attics, you just have to take the time to look.
The other thing I want people to take away is that
we should celebrate the fact that we all see things
differently. This is a good thing. This is not a bad
or dangerous thing. This is something that enriches
the world and makes it better.
Why do youwant this exhibition shown at LUMA?
Alan:
The photos were found here in Chicago, so it
made sense to have an exhibit here in the Chicago
area. What’s great about it being at LUMA is that
it’s not a standalone museum; it’s associated with a
university. The fact that it’s associated with Loyola
means that students will come in, and that it’s not
just going to be for people who are interested in an
art exhibit. You are going to have students from the
history department, political science, theology…All
sorts of different people will come in and appreciate
this. And the fact that LUMA has this expansive
view of its mission, of how art is significant in your
life, is why for us it is perfect having it here.