UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, THE WIND SHOULD CLEAR THE SMOKE (2022) is a performative intervention and installation of light, wind, and critical actions of exposing.
Developed during a year-long research residency and for the solo exhibition AS ABOVE SO BELOW at David Ireland’s House at the 500 Capp Street Foundation (500CSF) in San Francisco’s Mission District, the artwork is site-specific.
Using the context of David Ireland’s dining room, which previously was full of objects collected during Ireland’s time owning an import/export East African safari business, during his travels, and/or collected otherwise, UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, THE WIND SHOULD CLEAR THE SMOKE removes the spectatorship of trophied collectibles from the act of eating, and the act of eating from the objects in the dining room.
In an effort to neutralize, to see objects clearly for what they are, decolonize and clear the air: The dining table, made of reclaimed floorboards, and its chairs are flipped upside down; Additional lights, mirrors, and fans are brought in as Ireland sealed the window shutters closed; And the room is cleared of its trophied objects including elephant feet fashioned into furniture, rhinosaurus horns and skin, horned skulls, a manipulated crocodile skull, wooden objects collected from European colonial legacy, an obsessive shrine to Natalie Wood (which includes gold), and any other objects charged with imperialism, settler-colonialism, white patriarchy, power, dominance, and violence over the land, animals, people and their culture.
In turn, the drawers and cabinets in the dining room are opened and lighted— revealing archives, artworks in storage (most of which are wrapped in bubble wrap), utilitarian tools used by 500CSF staff, and objects regarding Ireland’s Hunter-Africa business. By flipping the gaze onto Ireland’s work, archive, and objects meant to remain private/unseen on the day-to-day, UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, THE WIND SHOULD CLEAR THE SMOKE attempts to bring generative and critical conversation about the ethics of collections and their display.
Collaborative ideas, conversations, and actions integral to the installation by the staff at 500CSF: Lian Ladia, Justin Nagle, Ava Koohbor, and Cait Malloy. Lighting support by Lian Ladia and Rico Duenas. Additional artwork permanently or semi-permanently on display by David Ireland, Việt Lê, and Rico Duenas. All other objects except fans belong to the 500CSF. The table was collaboratively flipped in community after a performance and reading by Lian Ladia, pot-luck dinner with 500CSF staff and board members including: Sherwin Rio, Cait Malloy, Lian Ladia, Justin Nagle, Ava Koohbor, Victor Saucedo, Dan Ake, and Jock Reynolds on December 1, 2022.
Photographs courtesy of Sherwin Rio.