John Akomfrah's 'Vertigo Sea' at MCA Chicago
18 November 2019
Opening 14 December 2019, 'Water After All' at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago reveals a glimpse of the many connections between humans and water.Primarily featuring works from the MCA Collection, the exhibition is centred around the Museum's recent acquisition of filmmaker John Akomfrah’s Vertigo Sea (2015). Presented in a spellbinding, three-screen installation, Akomfrah uses archival images, nature cinematography, and staged recreations; crossing time and space to reveal the poetic awe and horror of humanity’s relationship with water.
The artworks surrounding Vertigo Sea expand the exhibition’s thematic focus, diving deeper into our reliance on, exploitation of, and contact with our precious environment. Literary quotes exploring aquatic themes were selected by the exhibition's curators to emphasise the timeless connection of humans and water. These excerpts greet visitors in the galleries in preparation for viewing the beautiful and traumatic works featured in the exhibition.
'Water After All' runs from 14 December 2019 to 14 June 2020. Find out more via the MCA's website.
