The fourth episode of The Exhibit, the new docuseries brought to you by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and MTV, the seven artists are being tasked with creating a piece of art that addresses a really important and deeply rooted injustice. It’s a tough challenge, especially considering they only have ten hours to complete the task, but despite feeling a little groggy, the artists seem to have adapted well to both the setting and each other. Jillian Mayer even mentioned how she’s made some good friends during the competition, which is pretty cool to hear.
But guess what? It’s judgment time again on The Exhibit! Adam Pendleton and Kenny Schachter, who we’ve seen before as guest judges, are back and ready to evaluate the seven artists on their originality, quality of execution, and concept of work. And of course, we can’t forget about the show’s director Melissa Chiu, who reminds everyone that at the end of the day, they’re visual storytellers and the story they’re telling is the most important part of any artwork.
The Hirshhorn Collection Inspires Artists in Latest Episode of MTV Art Competition Show
This week, the Hirshhorn collection is providing some pretty interesting inspiration for the artists. There’s Mark Bradford’s Pickett’s Charge, a site-specific installation that depicts the final battle of the Civil War, and then there’s Ai Weiwei’s Trace, which shows 176 activists made from thousands of Lego bricks. It’s definitely a lot to work with, but some of the artists are already standing out. This new docuseries by MTV is already proving to be a first in the reality line up now crossing the velvet rope of the art world.
For example, Frank Buffalo Hyde has painted a stunning landscape of Mount Rushmore that shows the mountain as a sacred Indigenous site rather than a tourist attraction. Then there’s Baseera Khan, who has created a soft sculpture that highlights the negative space between three rings and raises the question, “Who gets a seat at the table?” And let’s not forget Jennifer Warren, who has revisited her winning painting from the first episode and created a new piece inspired by her father’s experiences during desegregation in the American South. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a really exciting episode!
Jennifer Warren’s father emotionally recounts his experience of being the only Black student in an all-white school and being mistreated by his English teacher. Jennifer remarks that this type of injustice was not taught in school. Meanwhile, Jamaal Barber’s wood panel collage focuses on Amadou Diallo, a young Guinean student who was shot and killed by police officers. Misha Kahn brings some levity to the challenge, but still faces difficulties in material experimentation as expanding foam spews from a pool toy. As the judges give feedback, some artists choose to stick to their plan while others consider contingency plans. Hirshhorn director Melissa Chiu reflects that each artist had their own unique perspective on justice, not necessarily limited to social justice. Clare Kambhu returns to still-life painting and depicts student chairs arranged to indicate a discussion had just occurred, drawing on her experience as a teacher in the school system, including teaching incarcerated individuals.
As the second week comes to a close, the artists showcased their interpretations of social justice through various mediums. Despite the challenges, all of them completed their projects, leaving the judges with tough decisions to make. As they deliberated, they found themselves impressed with the works of Buffalo Hyde and Warren, whose paintings challenged the traditional narratives of Mount Rushmore and the removal of Black men from their families, respectively. However, it was ultimately Kahn’s use of absurdity to highlight the plight of the Vaquita porpoise that impressed them the most. Although he did not win, he received high praise for his speedy and high-quality work. In the end, Kambhu’s piece, which offered a commentary on public education from her own perspective as a public teacher, earned her a well-deserved second win. As the artists move on to the next challenge, they know that limitations can indeed make for magic. Thank you MTV for finally bringing back the art to your network!
