The idea that art in a museum can change someone’s life was inapplicable to my friend and me before we visited the Barbara Krugar exhibit at Lacma in LA.
It was Saturday and my friend and I woke up early to drive to Los Angeles because we had museum tickets allowing us in at 10 am. We stopped for coffee and then parked and strolled around until it was time to enter the museum. At the front, there is an array of street lights titled “Urban Light(2008)” by Chris Burden. After taking photos at the familiar site we went inside and started exploring.
On the second floor of Lacma, we departed from the elevator to witness an exhibit by Barbara Kruger. The best way I can explain her work is poetry shown in interactive ways, such as in short films. Kruger has used images and photographs and has added her own commentary to them. My friend and I walked around looking at posters, words, and short films. The longer we stayed the more impact the exhibit brought us. It was emotional stepping out, having realizations about ourselves as individuals, and processing everything we had seen. We noted how profound the experience was, and how we thought that anyone who stepped foot on that floor would also have an impactful experience. Kruger has done a captivating job of depicting the media, one’s struggle with identity, depression, and so much more.
