Pedestrian — ROMAN SUSAN

Madhuri Shukla
Pedestrian
1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago IL
August 3, 2013 - August 24, 2013

Madhuri Shukla creates drawings, sculptures, and animation with a wiry and spontaneous line quality to explore the space between a childlike aesthetic and dark narratives.

Shukla’s work focuses on when and why abuses are accepted and even celebrated in cartoons but are repulsive in ‘real’ life. A background in Urban Studies influences her work. In this series Shukla engages themes of difference, racism and violent crime. Her images read rapidly and easily on an initial and superficial level–maybe even register as cute–but upon thoughtful inspection convey an articulated meaning.

public memory - the absence, presence and form of a bench is indicative of its acquired and desired users. the double bench functions as a testament to shared public histories.

poppy water - sometimes you don't see a trashcan, sometimes mailboxes look like trashcans, and sometimes flower beds will do.

execution - designing safe streets can only go so far to prevent acts of violent crime.

spice, dogg - regional foods foster common ground and attract outsiders. here, a turmeric mustard motif speaks to my experience of devon avenue and chicagoland food culture.

after dinner - fennel seeds and peppermints

dog's barricades - urban dog ownership facilitates socialization and positively affects crime rates by increasing the number of "eyes on the street" -- a concept popularized by one of my favorite thinkers, jane jacobs. the dog's own confinement remains secondary in this phenomena.

hate crime - a few red spray painted swastikas with anti-semitic messages appeared on the east devon docks and street last fall. this piece works with this in hindu imagery and a brick in the window.