Reflection on Black Sun

In August, I went to an exhibition called “Black Sun” held by Mire Lee at the New Museum in New York. “Black Sun” comes from the book “Black Sun” published by Julia Kristeva in 1987. The main content of this book is the study of depression and melancholia, and it presents a depressing and dark atmosphere. Likewise, Mire’s work uses built environments, kinetic sculptures, and fabrics to create eerie atmospheres and suggest emotional emptiness and psychological tension.
In this exhibition, Mire used many elements of daily life tools such as motors, steel poles, motors and PVC hoses to construct many works that resemble human organs. Mire’s works look both like living creatures and biological machines, prompting reflections on the relationship between bodily function and environmental decay. Beyond this, these works invite viewers to explore technological and material realms and consider the complex relationships between the body, the built environment, and machines.
The work pictured in particular resonated with me. First of all, the work looks like a rotten human structure made of soil and various steel pipes, which gives the audience an uncomfortable feeling. However, this work also makes people think about the problem of global environmental pollution. There is no doubt that with the development of technology and the times, our infrastructure and quality of life have improved, but in the process, many industrial wastes that are seriously harmful to the environment have also been produced. These industrial wastes pollute the environment and indirectly harm human body functions. I believe what Mire’s work wants to express is for humans to find a balance between technology and environmental protection. This is similar to the climate change we studied in the design thinking class. In the course we have deeply studied the harm of carbon emissions to the environment and are working hard to find solutions to curb climate change. Mire uses daily life waste elements to arouse people’s thinking about the relationship between environment and technology and satirizes the harm of human beings to the environment.
Overall, this exhibition is very meaningful to me. Mire Lee reflects the severe environmental problems of the earth in a very satirical art form and warns mankind to stop destroying the environment and find solutions to protect the environment.