ICA VCU Exhibition 'So it appears' Features 19 Artists Using Abstraction as Political Strategy

The Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA at VCU) is showcasing 'So it appears,' an exhibition that will be open from February 24 to July 16, 2023. Curated by Senior Curator Sarah Rifky alongside Curatorial Fellow Yomna Osman, the exhibition features the works of nineteen artists who utilize abstraction to explore unseen issues like carcerality, environmental racism, and sonic warfare. Among the artists are Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Monira Al Qadiri, Navine G. Dossos, and Torkwase Dyson, with Dossos's artwork subtly referencing the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi through Islamic geometry. Additionally, Kurant and Menick critique Amazon's Mechanical Turk, while Abu Hamdan's sound-images highlight sonic warfare in Lebanon. On April 21st, ICA will celebrate its fifth anniversary with new works from Tasmania's Tricky Walsh and New York's Sharon Mashihi. The exhibition encompasses forty artworks from 2004 to the present, representing fourteen nations.