Taryn Simon's Gagosian Exhibition Exposes Symbolic Emptiness of International Treaties

From February 18 to March 26, 2016, Gagosian Gallery in New York hosted Taryn Simon's exhibition titled 'Paperwork and the Will of the Capital.' This showcase included 36 photographs and 12 sculptures that delved into the symbolism of international agreements. The photographs depicted floral arrangements from treaty signings, such as the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, accompanied by texts addressing their shortcomings. Simon presented these pieces in mahogany frames, evoking the atmosphere of signing ceremonies. Her sculptures featured pressed flowers encased under concrete presses. The exhibition underscored how treaties often remain "mere words on paper," with many failing despite the signatures of numerous nations, including the U.S., due to inaction from local governments. Simon's work critiqued the disconnect between political commitments and their actual implementation.