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Masterworks: Googlepaedic Narrations and the Dysfuction of Damage Masterworks: Googlepaedic Narrations and the Dysfuction of Damage Solo exhibition by Shaurya Kumar The works of art that Shaurya Kumar creates are multilayered in every way possible. Ultimately, his work is a dialogue about site, how site effects and affects data and therefore a society, a culture, a people and ultimately a person. Through the means of manipulating technology his work acts as the canary in a mine shaft and asks us what we are entrusting to virtual memory, what are we loosing as we gain more knowledge than we can possibly use, and what does it mean when we become better connected with our cyber neighbors than those outside our front door? Kumar is uniquely positioned to ask these questions, as he lives in a space between two worlds; his former home of New Delhi and his current home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. India’s history, geography, religious and ethnic makeup, and culture are vastly different to the United States and yet these two countries maintain a close relationship. Negotiating this diaspora is an everyday activity for Kumar. Similar to what we experience with technology, globalization also has its positive and negatives during our time of constant, rapid and invisible change. Kumar uses the process of inevitable destruction as a means by which to transform images. Each image has its past and story but through the gentle manipulation of moving small bits of code these objects are assigned new meanings and infact become new images. Kumar makes work that encourages us to consider these vital questions: What will we retain? What will become eroded? What through time and age will we be loosing? Kumar’s work becomes an allegorical tale cautioning us to be aware, to actively be discerning and safe guarding our history as it belongs to those who come after us as much as the monuments, oceans, forests, and great works of art we document. - Anita Jung, Associate Professor, University of Iowa When Fri, March 1, 5pm – Sat, March 23, 7pm GMT-06:00 Where City Museum, Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces, NM Who (Guest list has been hidden at organizer's request)