Art in Dark Times

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In 1982, during the late phase of the Cold War, the German painter Gerhard Richter stated that “art is the highest form of hope.” Through the exploration of various art forms such as painting, sculpture, and photography, this course will examine how artists have responded to and reflected upon the social and political challenges of their time. From the horrors of war to the struggles for civil rights to the climate crisis and global pandemics, artists have repeatedly used their work as a call to action. By analyzing how modern and contemporary artists have engaged with these critical issues, students will gain a deeper understanding of the power of art to provoke thought, inspire change, and provide solace in times of uncertainty. Dorothea Lange's iconic photographs of the Great Depression not only exposed the realities of economic hardship and poverty in America but also served as a rallying cry for social and political reform. When Picasso’s “Guernica" was first unveiled in 1937, the painting's impact was immediate, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide and igniting a collective call for peace and justice. Ai Weiwei's art installation, "Remembering," which consisted of thousands of backpacks representing the lives lost in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, not only memorialized the victims but also shed light on government corruption and negligence. Like a perfect theorem, these examples prove that, as long as artists have the courage to confront the difficulties of their day, there will always be hope for real change.

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