Kean University Art Exhibition Takes Aim at Cultural Traditions of Human Rights Abuses
Exhibition designed to raise consciousness, inspire dialogue and encourage action toward universal human rights
UNION, N.J. – Now through December 16, The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions (www.breakingcriminaltraditions.com) will be on exhibit at the Human Rights Institute Gallery at Kean University. This fine art exhibition, featuring the work of 24 artists from around the country, calls attention to the ongoing ancient rituals that kill or maim millions each year, yet are not considered crimes. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, October 4, from 5-8 p.m. featuring the exhibition's curator, executive producer and artist Richard Laurent. Admission to the reception and exhibit is free and open to the public.
“Breaking Criminal Traditions utilizes high-quality fine art to educate and raise awareness of human rights issues worldwide and encourages rich and interdisciplinary dialogue,” said Neil Tetkowski, Director of University Galleries. “In keeping with the efforts of the Human Rights Institute to raise awareness of and inspire action against injustice, we hope these artworks will serve as a vehicle for social change so that all people, everywhere, will be granted universal human rights."
This provocative yet engaging exhibition debuted in 2013 at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law and brought shadowy topics including honor killing, child marriage and acid violence directly into public consciousness and into public debate. The exhibit continues to expand and evolve, with a unique presentation designed specifically for Kean’s Human Rights Institute Gallery.
Curator Chuck Gniech chose approximately 50 “intriguing” pieces of fine art in a variety of mediums. “Conscious of the human rights issues outlined by the exhibition’s executive producer, Cheryl Jefferson, each art piece alludes to the issues at hand, but the meaning is ultimately defined by the viewer,” he said.
Jefferson, a participant in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, noted that the global reach of these complex human behaviors extends to the United States. “The exhibit allows us to take the first step toward change and to support the legal evolution that can only come from within other cultures and our own,” she said.
The Human Rights Institute Gallery at Kean University, located at 1000 Morris Avenue, is open Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.kean.edu/galleries, call 908-737-0392 or email galleries@kean.edu.
PHOTO CAPTION:
"Silent Witness" by James Deeb (30” x 22” monotype) is one of more than 50 works that appear in The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition at the Human Rights Institute Gallery at Kean University that call attention to the ancient rituals that continue to destroy millions each year yet are not considered crimes.
“Silent Witness” was originally developed from the artist’s interest in medical and dental x-rays but, Deeb explains, “After I finished it [Silent Witnesses] and the other pieces in the series, I realized that they were less about human interaction with medical technology and more about taboo subjects often left unspoken. Speaking out against these crimes almost always leads to violent reprisals. The victims’ coerced silence helps give these ‘traditions and their perpetrators an air of normalcy that allows the vicious cycle to continue.”
Richard Laurent’s “Arcadia” is one of more than 50 works that appear in The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition at the Human Rights Institute Gallery at Kean University that call attention to the ancient rituals that continue to destroy millions each year yet are not considered crimes.
According to curator Chuck Gniech, “Arcadia” is “a surreal composition of a faceless female figure amongst a strangely beautiful landscape. The painting—filled with subtle surprises—highlights a monumental mask as the point of focus. The mask rests gently against a patterned mountain range—that upon closer inspection—appears to be the haunches of an animal. The eyes of the mask, stare blankly off into space… providing a sense of loss or disillusion.” Laurent explains that “The image references an ancient social idea where women are considered feral and by ancient logic... dangerous. She exists only as a mask. Her dream is to be transformed from an empty vessel, into a moral—if not empowered—human being. The title points to a personal outcome without limits.”
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Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University's six undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable, accessible and world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.
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