Christine Sun Kim for Art in Ad Places. Photo by Luna Park.
Here’s something that everyone can empathize with. Christine Sun Kim’s contribution to Art in Ad Places touches on love, patriotism, appropriation, and the unique complications that come with being an American living in a foreign country.
Christine says, “In American Sign Language (ASL) you combine the three letters: I, L, and Y into one sign to say ‘I love you.’ That sign is very visible in media and often signed by non-deaf celebrities. I thought to myself, ‘maybe that sign needs a break from loving...’ so I added a frown to it, as if it's its own person. And as an American living in Berlin, I added the presidential seal in the background because it's been incredibly frustrating and exhausting for me to watch the United States in the midst of the current political climate. I'm contributing to Art in Ad Places to let people know that they're not alone in this.”
With this piece, because we love it so much (perhaps too much, if we take Christine's advice), we installed a few copies of the same artwork. In this post, you’ll see two. Out on the street, see if you can find more.
Christine Sun Kim for Art in Ad Places. Photo by Luna Park.