Onnig Kardash
Kardashs installation is part of his evolving Tools project, now entering its third decade that consists of sculptures based on the idea of the quaternary.
Its all about universality, Kardash explained. Virtually every culture on the planet has symbols and metaphors deriving from the quaternary, or the principle of four. Think of the four seasons, the four elements, the four corners of the world. In other words, our most profound cultural aspirations speak of the universal, of embracing the whole, whereas were stuck in two-dimensional modes of thinking such as nationalism or corporate globalization, and we worship two-dimensional devices, such as our technological wonders that actually prevent us from experiencing things beyond our cocoons. The Tools project is my way of shattering the barriers of two- dimensionality, of crossing borders, to both acknowledge and experience the other.
Kardash said his project owes much to his travels throughout the world. He has lived and worked in a number of diverse societies, and many of his sojourns have inspired him to undertake various teaching and writing initiatives. For the past 20 years he has conducted a Teen Apprenticeship Program in New York, fostering unfettered artistic _expression grounded in advanced techniques and discipline. He has also authored several monographs and childrens books, all of which share a message of nonviolence and cultural concordance through mutual understanding.
Ninety-one years have passed since the Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, yet Armenian-Turkish dialogue is not only nonexistent today, its an enormous taboo, Kardash explained. But Im not pursuing a specifically political mission by trying to create links with Turkish cultural workers and teaching sculpture to talented kids. Im just doing my thing as a sculptor and as someone genuinely interested in advancing peace across national divides. In the past, Ive conducted similar programs in Nagorno-Karabagh and elsewhere, and Im not interested in only the Armenian-Turkish issue. I believe the canvas of peace and mutual understanding should be spread throughout the world, irrespective of ones background.
Kardashs installation at Black Maria Gallery will include an interactive feature whereby visitors will be encouraged to move around his sculptures to form distinct ensembles and set-ups. These movements will be taped by an overhead camera and projected onto a screen in the main space of the gallery. There will also be shown a mini documentary on Kardash, including clips of the artist discussing the concept of the quaternary.