Moss exhibition dives into murky histories of museum collections
On a desk of the private study collection of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, an old stuffed parrot guarded a small library and a vast, yet obsolete ornithology collection. An excited young scientist read a story on the origins of the desiccated animal for the purpose of entertaining a group of visitors. It may have been the last “speaker” of a dead Indigenous language from colonial Venezuela or a German prince’s precious gift to the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. There is no clear understanding which of these versions, if any, might be true.
Curated by David Ayala-Alfonso, “Never Spoken Again: Rogue Stories of Science and Collections” is a traveling exhibition that reflects on the birth of modern collections, the art institutions that sustain them, and their contingent origin stories to reveal a universe of erasures, violence, and fortuity. Considering how institutional collections organize our lives, the exhibition brings together artists whose works open up a critique of material culture, iconography, and political ecologies.
“Never Spoken Again” comes to the Moss Arts Center, debuting with an opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 4-6 p.m. in the center’s Grand Lobby. Moss Arts Center Curator Brian Holcombe will give remarks and lead a tour of the exhibitions at 5 p.m.
Holcombe and exhibition curator Ayala-Alfonso will discuss the process of curation and dive deeper into the exhibition during a curator’s panel event on Friday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. in the Moss Arts Center Cube.
The galleries and all related events are free and open to the public.
The works in “Never Spoken Again: Rogue Stories of Science and Collections” make use of the language of the museum display and the ethnographical video to uncover stories of colonial exploitation, myths, fake currencies, war games, and the slow violence of systematic racism that historically underpin collecting practices. These practices examine not only the collected objects and the systems of distribution that facilitate their circulation, but also the disciplines and subjects of study that they trade in. Together they open the field for considering agency in how histories and futures may be constituted otherwise.
The exhibition features work from these artists: Morehshin Allahyari, Maria Thereza Alves, François Bucher, Giuseppe Campuzano, Alia Farid, Sofia de Grenade, Laura Huertas Millán, Ulrik López, Carlos Motta, Beatriz Santiago Muñoz, Erkan Öznur, David Peña Lopera, Claudia Peña Salinas, Michael Rakowitz, Reyes Santiago Rojas, Daniel R. Small, and Felipe Steinberg.
The exhibition will be on view until Saturday, Dec. 14.
“Never Spoken Again: Rogue Stories of Science and Collections” is produced by Independent Curators International. It is the result of a new series of programs, pioneered with the support of the Hartfield Foundation, aimed at providing opportunities to alumni of ICI’s Curatorial Intensive as they move through the stages of their career, and reflecting ICI’s commitment to fostering and championing new curatorial voices who will shape the future of the field. “Never Spoken Again” is made possible with the generous support of ICI’s Board of Trustees and International Forum, with additional support from SAHA.
Curator-led gallery tours
Take a deep dive into the exhibition with the center’s monthly noontime curator tour, “Beyond the Frame.” Join Moss Arts Center Curator Brian Holcombe on the second Thursday of every month. Starting promptly at noon in the Grand Lobby, the tours are free and open to the public.
Holcombe will provide expert insight and contextualization, offer behind-the-scenes glimpses into the acquisition and installation processes, and answer participant questions. Learn more about the artists featured in the galleries and their works, including historical and thematic contexts, and be inspired to look at art and the creative process in new ways.
There will be three tours offered for the center’s fall exhibition on Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12.
Visiting the galleries
Located at 190 Alumni Mall, the Moss Arts Center’s galleries are open on Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The center offers many opportunities for students, faculty, and community members to engage with artists and their work. To arrange a group tour of the galleries, contact Laura Higgins.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. When not staffed for a special event, visitors may park in the garage by taking a ticket at entry and paying with Visa or Mastercard upon exit. Find more parking details online.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.
