Whitney Biennial 2019: Protest and Paralysis in Trump's America
The Whitney Museum in New York unveiled the 2019 Whitney Biennial, curated by Jane Panetta and Rujeko Hockley, showcasing the work of 71 artists, with 75% being under the age of 40. Spanning two floors, the exhibition features notable pieces such as Agustina Woodgate's National Times (2016-19), Alexandra Bell's newspaper collages addressing the Central Park Five, Kota Ezawa's National Anthem (2018), and climate change works by Josh Kline. Protests arose calling for the ousting of board member Warren B. Kanders, prompting a letter from both curators and artists advocating for his resignation. Additionally, the biennial includes Forensic Architecture's video Triple-Chaser (2019) and Nicole Eisenman's Procession (2019), which critiques the ineffectiveness of protest.
Key facts
- Whitney Biennial 2019 opened at Whitney Museum, New York.
- Curated by Jane Panetta and Rujeko Hockley.
- 71 artists featured, three-quarters under 40.
- Exhibition spans two full floors, ground floor, and third-floor corridor.
- Diane Simpson has a dedicated room on the ground floor.
- Agustina Woodgate's National Times uses clocks that erode to critique labor exploitation.
- Alexandra Bell's work revisits the Central Park Five case and Trump's death penalty calls.
- Kota Ezawa's National Anthem honors NFL kneeling protests.
- Josh Kline addresses climate change denial by drowning power icons in liquid.
- Pat Phillips's mural includes a gun, 'riot control' labels, and a wooden fence.
- Simone Leigh's Brick House is also on the High Line Plinth.
- Maia Ruth Lee's Labyrinth translates emotions into metal tools.
- Matthew Angelo Harrison encases African artifacts in resin for 'abstracted ancestry'.
- Curran Hatleberg's photographs show a timeless America.
- Protests demand removal of board member Warren B. Kanders (Safariland owner).
- Decolonize This Place led the mobilization; curators and artists signed a letter.
- Forensic Architecture's Triple-Chaser video, narrated by David Byrne, added due to protests.
- Nicole Eisenman's Procession features ten figures in a grotesque parade on the terrace.
- Procession uses wax, clothing, plastic lids, wool, and ball bearings.
- The biennial reflects a bipolar mood of protest and paralysis in Trump-era America.
Entities
Artists
- Jane Panetta
- Rujeko Hockley
- Diane Simpson
- Agustina Woodgate
- Alexandra Bell
- Kota Ezawa
- Josh Kline
- Pat Phillips
- Simone Leigh
- Maia Ruth Lee
- Matthew Angelo Harrison
- Curran Hatleberg
- Nicole Eisenman
- David Byrne
- Laura Poitras
- Forensic Architecture
- Donald J. Trump
- Warren B. Kanders
Institutions
- Whitney Museum
- Whitney Biennial
- High Line Art
- Decolonize This Place
- Safariland
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Whitney Museum
- High Line
- Hudson River
- Mexico border