Oil on canvas, acrylic on paper, ink on cardboard – contemporary art will be coming to the Allied Museum for two months in an exhibition titled “True Colors. Meditations on the American Spirit.”
From Sept. 10 to Nov. 9, 2003, 72 works will be shown that represent these American artists’ response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. The exhibition was organized by the Meridian International Center in Washington D.C., and is currently on an international tour. Thanks to the generous support of Boeing International Corporation and ABB, it will be on display in Berlin as well.
The exhibition was conceived by artists who were eyewitnesses to the terrorist attacks: the theme chosen was “Meditations on the American Spirit.” The response was overwhelming, making the final selection extremely difficult. “True Colors” brings together artists from all different backgrounds and reflects the diversity and multicultural nature of American society. It includes artists of international renown as well as names still to be discovered on this side of the ocean.
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the airplane attacks and “Ground Zero” are motives of the exhibition; but its artistic spectrum goes beyond this. Many of the works were completed before Sept. 11, but the changed perspective provides them with new meaning. The value of this exhibition is that, in the face of the huge blow to American self-confidence, it transcends the sensationalism of the event to show aspects of American identity.
Following an actors’ reading to commemorate the 1st anniversary of Sept. 11, this exhibition represents the Allied Museum’s continuing efforts to contribute to the public examination of the event.
An English-language exhibition catalogue which includes all 72 works will be available.
