
As we approached the cage, a grave feeling fell over the crowd and made way for silence. People circled around the art piece, reading stories written on the floor boards about the trials and tribulations of those who have been oppressed. There were no anecdotes of peace or relief, only horrific stories that made me question humanity. Only stories that amplified the hatred and cruelty of people, both past and present. Stories that grabbed hold of me and forced me to self-reflect on how I could help. I felt this piece educating me with raw human experiences that hold the power to shift perspective.

According to the SmithGroup in their article entitled “Society’s Cage,” the physical lack of color and rigid prison-like bars are meant to visually reflect Black American experiences. The SmithGroup also says that their piece sheds light on the products of institutionalized racism in this country. This installation was created in response to the deaths of both George Floyd and Breonna Taylor as a way to educate, reflect, and record different experiences. The “record” aspect of the piece is included in a unique and profound way. Upon arrival at the piece, viewers are encouraged to enter the cube and hold their breath for as long as possible. After this exercise, they are to record their time and post it on social media with a specified hashtag. The inspiration for this exercise comes from the murder of George Floyd, in which he was forced under an officer’s knee for eight minutes and forty six seconds.
Society’s Cage facilitates reflection from a distance, yet also allows for a fuller, more interactive experience. Its haunting facts and stories shocked me in ways I had never experienced. The brutal history and reality that America continues to face every day are defined by the imprisoning aspect of this art.
The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement this year has also sparked creativity on a much greater scale. In her New York Times article entitled “The ‘Black Lives Matter’ Street Art That Contains Multitudes,” Julia Jacobs discusses street art on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Different Black artists came together to paint the words “Black Lives Matter” along the street.


Artists throughout the country and the world feel the need to reflect pressing issues in their work. There has been a significant rise in pieces influenced by the BLM movement this year, whether their goals are educational, political, or economic. Art allows for the amplification of voices and experiences around the world that continue to shape our history. What we take from these pieces is up to us, but they are there to plant a seed of education and growth.
Sources
https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/societys-cage_1_o
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/arts/design/black-lives-matter-murals-new-york.html
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/art-world-black-lives-matter-movement
Images
https://www.archpaper.com/2020/09/societys-cage-architectural-comment-on-systemic-racism-on-the-washington-mall/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/arts/design/black-lives-matter-murals-new-york.html
https://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/societys-cage-installation-debut-set-to-coincide-with-the-march-on-washington-next-week
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/art-world-black-lives-matter-movement