Deborah Oropallo, China, 2023, photomontage: UV-cured pigment print and acrylic paint on canvas. Courtesy of the artists and Catharine Clark Gallery
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White Paper Protests
During the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, China gained international attention for its strict and inflexible policies. Invasive surveillance was pushed onto the people, ensuring no one left for things like groceries, work, or other essential services. While food was supposed to be delivered to the quarantined cities, issues reaching so many people led to food shortages in multiple regions. In 2022, when most of the world was attempting to exist in a post-pandemic state, China’s lockdown policies continued. With China’s history of violence and censorship towards protestors, the people had to get more creative with how they expressed their discontent. As a form of silent protest, people began holding up blank papers to evade censorship while still getting their opinions across. Signs that did have things on them included things like math formulas, ironically positive messages, and asterisks. The widespread protests led to the loosening of restrictions, but tensions between the Chinese people and the government are still high. Artist Deborah Oropallo commemorates this creative use of free speech in her piece China, which features a photo collage of signs seen at the protests. Learn more about the White Paper Protests with the link below, and find China in the Heiter Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/world/asia/china-protests-blank-sheets.html
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Deborah Oropallo, Jeremiah Franklin, and Andy Rappaport, Going Ballistic, 2017 and 2024, three-channel video with two-channel sound, editing and sound design by Jeremiah Franklin, with sound mastering and three screen video composition by Andy Rappaport. Courtesy of the artists and Catharine Clark Gallery
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Space Race
Taking place during the Cold War, the Space Race was a time of technological competition between the United States and Russia. When Russia launched the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957, tensions grew because of the unknown levels of surveillance that could be taking place. Russia would launch Sputnik 2 before the U.S. would launch Explorer 1 in 1958. The race would “end” in 1969 with the Apollo 11 mission, bringing the first humans to step on the moon. The Space Race represents a time of significant scientific advancement; NASA was founded in response to the desire to explore space. It was also a time of hostility, fear, and agitation. Artists Deborah Oropallo, Jeremiah Franklin, and Andy Rappaport use this tension as an inspiration for their piece Going Ballistic. The 3:45 (min) video compiles images of different rocket launches on top of one another, blending the achievements of both parties into one force of awe and destruction. Learn more about the Space Race with the link below, and find Going Ballistic in the Treehaven Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art.
https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/space-race
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Deborah Oropallo, Naval Destroyer, 2016, photomontage: UV-cured pigment print and acrylic paint on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Catharine Clark Galleries.
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Sailor Moon
Recognized as one of the most iconic animes, Sailor Moon evokes a nostalgic feeling. The series was originally released in 1992 in Japan and found commercial success domestically and internationally. In an interview in 2022, the 30th anniversary of the series, NPR’s Juana Summers interviews Briana Lawrence from The Mary Sue to understand the cultural longevity of the franchise. From feminism and queer representation to reviving an entire genre of media, Lawrence explains the depth of the impact Sailor Moon has left on a generation. Artist Deborah Oropallo plays with this nostalgic imagery in her piece Naval Destroyer, a reference to the violence of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. Although the figure is hidden, the iconic blonde pigtails and sailor costume can be seen under layers of ocean and nuclear weapons. Hear what Lawrence has to say about the importance of Sailor Moon with the link below, and see Naval Destroyer in the Heiter Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art.
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/23/1088331737/30-years-later-why-we-all-still-love-sailor-moon
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