Tavares Strachan (Bahamian, b. 1979)
We Are In This Together (multi), 2018,
Cobalt super blue, sky blue, traffic light green, green, clear gold neon, transformers
Gift of the Art Collection Advisory Committee (Malú Alvarez ’02, Charlotte Artus, Jane Avinger, Susan Baik, Ralph E. Blakely, Jr. ’67, Kat Belk ’46, Lisa Chidsey ’83, Kitty Garner ’85, Amy Clemmons King ’97, Jamie Knowles ’10, Nan Loftin, Joe Logan ’77, Fred Lopp ’63, Frank K. Lord ’89, John MacMahon ’95, Susan N. McAlister ’85, Dan McLawhorn ’70, Katie B. Morris, Marian Nisbet, Elena Paul ’85, Susan Ross, Lauren Sanford ’03, Ginny Newell ’78, and Lyn Bolen Warren ’83), President Carol E. Quillen and George McLendon, Jeff Prince, Lia Newman, and Sherry Nelson.
It is with great excitement the Van Every/Smith Galleries introduce the newly acquired artwork We Are In This Together (multi) by Tavares Strachan. It is now permanently on view in the E.Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center.
At first glance, the universalizing phrase, “we are in this together,” may elicit a head nod of appreciation, a recognition of a shared commonality of the human experience. At the same time, it also provokes a certain amount of skepticism by asking the questions “are we in this together?” “how is the ‘we’ defined here?” and “who is the ‘you’ in opposition to the ‘we’?”
Strachan first employed the phrase “we are in this together” in a site-specific, large-scale art installation in Telluride, Colorado–planned about five years ago but only recently completed. Strachan imagined the phrase would spark conversation between different viewpoints to address social issues, such as affordable housing and food security, that existed in the region, as well as globally. Thus, Strachan intended the phrase as not only a way of drawing attention to struggles within our society, but also as a call to action. Of course, this message has taken on new significance in the midst of the pandemic and protests over racial injustice that have swept the nation.
The profundity and humanist beliefs of such a message contrast the superficiality and insensitivity of consumerism that is implied by the neon light, the language of advertising. Such contrast elicits a greater consideration on how the public and general media are abusing the sense of belonging in this phrase.
We hope this artwork and its installation in the Wall Center can encourage students to actively investigate the cultural dynamic of scientific knowledge and reflect on the community we need and want, under the inspiration of Tavares Strachan who devotes himself to activating the intersection of art, science and politics.
Tavares Strachan (Bahamanian, b. 1979) is a contemporary conceptual artist who uses multi-media installations to offer uniquely synthesized views on cultural dynamics and scientific explorations. His works have been featured in numerous solo exhibitions including You Belong Here, Prospect 3. Biennial, New Orleans; The Immeasurable Daydream, Biennale de Lyon, Lyon; Polar Eclipse, The Bahamas National Pavilion 55th Venice Biennale, Venice; Seen/Unseen, Undisclosed Exhibition, New York; Orthostatic Tolerance: It Might Not Be Such a Bad Idea if I Never Went Home Again, MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, MA; among others. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards including 2019-20 Artist in Residence at the Getty Research Institute, 2018 Frontier Art Prize, Allen Institute’s inaugural artist-in-residence in 2018, 2014 LACMA Art + Technology Lab Artist Grant, 2008 Tiffany Foundation Grant, 2007 Grand Arts Residency Fellowship, and 2006 Alice B. Kimball Fellowship. Strachan lives between Nassau, Bahamas and New York, and is represented by Marian Goodman Gallery, London/NY.
Sarah Zhang, ’23