The inclusion of the term “speed” in the title of this collective exhibition intends to initiate discussions about the diverse experiences of acceleration prevalent in today’s world, shaped by pressing issues such as climate change, ethics, and political dilemmas. It raises questions about constructions of subjectivity and the role of art in relation to it. How does contemporary art provide a space of subjectivization amidst the crucial issue of difference? Can it assist in understanding that connections and encounters between individuals occur across diverse temporalities and dynamics?

The exhibition’s curatorial concept emerges from a sense of unease, probing not only the participating artists but also the context of New York City, particularly Brooklyn and the Navy Yard area. It investigates the intricate dynamics of urban movement, reflecting on how these interactions mold the cityscape, identities, and communal spaces. As an international community, Uncool Artist acts as a nexus, uniting artists from diverse backgrounds and locales, fostering connections through shared interests and expressions. With its diverse cohort of artists, Uncool Artist becomes a platform for exploring the ever-evolving social fabric and its myriad changes, allowing artists to articulate their perspectives poetically offering fresh insights to the Uncool Gallery’s audience. This inaugural exhibition of the Uncool Gallery marks a significant milestone for the Uncool Artist community, from which the gallery emerged, highlighting the interconnectedness between the artists and the space they inhabit.

Envisioned as a collective endeavor, spatial arrangements resemble a rhizome, branching out without a central locus of action. Artists explore speeds echoing urban rhythms, capturing overlooked aspects of everyday life. For instance, Wilson Orellana’s paintings capture the quietude of everyday existence, particularly focusing on the living conditions prevalent in Latin America. Tiago Aguiar’s artworks draw inspiration from his background as a construction worker and immigrant, offering glimpses into the power dynamics within the workplace. Isabel Llaguno utilizes her own body as a medium, exploring the complexities of gendered existence in patriarchal societies through video performance art that traverses urban and domestic spaces. Meanwhile, Heli Fouchard reimagines the passage of time through the reappropriation of clock imagery, creating a sense of fragmented and suspended hours, inviting viewers to perceive time as a continuous stream of consciousness.

The exhibition further explores the intersection of technology and nature through artworks such as Jay Lee’s bioplastic-supported photographs and paintings, which reflect on the natural elements intertwined with urban infrastructure. Erika Choe’s ceramics artworks prompt reflections on gestures like braiding, knotting, and weaving, exploring the body’s relationship with capitalism and technology. Ana Julia Vilela’s paintings unravel the complexities of identity, embracing a fantastical and imaginative essence while questioning conventional constructs.

Gustavo Rizeiro’s abstract circular patterns evoke notions of harmony and interconnectedness, offering a glimpse into the realm of the imaginary. Peilian Li’s poems serve as unsent messages, brimming with imaginative ideas and hinting at potential exchanges amid diversity. Mariana Battistelli’s participatory work challenges viewers with white puzzle pieces, enticing them with the allure of the impossible and incomplete. Lastly, Silvana Soriano’s collaborative piece—a blanket crafted collectively by artists and friends—transforms a mundane object into a symbol of convergence, blending diverse aesthetic perspectives.

“At Different Speeds” invites viewers to engage with diverse perceptions, encouraging introspection on personal experiences and rhythms. It calls individuals to navigate between desires for contraction and expansion, seeking diverse engagement with the exhibition.

– Carolina Paz and Daniela Avellar