One man’s trash is another man’s masterpiece.
Jamaican-born artist Nari Ward makes it his goal to reuse mundane objects to create his works of art. These pieces often address poverty and social issues. In one of his pieces, “Glory,” Ward created a tanning bed out of oil drums to represent America’s unhealthy obsession with oil and other vices.
The objects, such as old baby strollers and gasoline tanks, are not normally considered art because of their functionality, but Ward has discovered a way to combine these items into works that have stood in multiple museums across the nation.
The question of what defines art is an often-debated topic. Many do not see the use of everyday items as forms of art.
“Art is the viewer,” Ward said. “The viewer is a key element. It is all about what the viewer sees and if they are on the same page as the artist.”
Ward had a knack for drawing at an early age, but growing up in Jamaica limited his growth as an artist. To provide a better life for her children, his mother took a job offer in America and sent for Ward and his brothers one by one. He went to college in New York for visual arts, where he realized he could truly pursue art as a profession.
In the early ’90s, Ward began taking an interest in what was going on in the world. He lived in Harlem when drugs and AIDs became prevalent issues. Ward was inspired to begin talking about the issues he saw in his life through his art work.
He began working with things that were easily found or discarded and built a narrative around them. Ward saw the idea of creating art out of everyday items as a way to show that nothing in life is worthless. He found this form of art enjoyable, and so did others. Ward has had work displayed in museums, like the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Guggenheim Museum.
When creating a piece, Ward said it’s not finished until he “does not understand what is happening” in the sculpture. As art is meant to be a form of free expression, he does not want to control it.
“When you raise a child and then see that child taking on its own responsibilities, you let them control the environment. That is the way I see art.” Ward said.
Ward has a residency at the College of Art and Design teaching students how to create installation art. In January, he worked on several sculptures with his students that will be a part of the LSU Museum of Art’s Rooted Communities exhibition.
Ward said his goal as an artist is to “express what is happening in the world.” He said he believes if an issue is personally addressed, people will have a clearer understanding of what is occurring instead of believing the words around them.
Ward draws a comparison between teaching and art. He said the goal in both professions is to change a life. He said he believes his work is not successful if his audience leaves the exhibit the same way it entered. While teaching, Ward told his students they needed to have a relationship with their audience.
“Artists make connections that can’t happen in other spaces,” Ward said.
Ward said the space where the works are displayed will grow over time as he visits Baton Rouge for his residency. The pieces on display reflect Ward’s experience with his students and what he has seen in Baton Rouge.
The exhibit will open to the public on Friday for free and will be located on the fifth floor of the LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center for the Arts.
“The idea of this exhibit is to recreate a new position of the object for the viewer.”
Loisaids LiquorsouL, a piece of art by Nari Ward, is displayed museum Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in the LSU Museum of Art in Downtown Baton Rouge.
