Daniel, one of our EAC Interns, writes about his first day at the Art Center and artwork by John Wangendo:
On my first day at the Evanston Art Center, John Wangendo’s “Have You Heard” instantly caught my eye. I was looking forward to taking my lunch break, having not eaten anything for breakfast, but this piece brought me to a pause, interrupting my serious mission to get Joe & the Juice. There was something alluring to me about the charcoal-on-canvas piece, which depicts one young child whispering to another. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition between the hushed, seemingly mundane interaction depicted between the boys and the visual loudness of the piece, which is both boldly monochromatic and measures four feet tall. Though the subject is ordinary, Wangendo frames the interaction with the scale and seriousness of dramatic portraiture.
Both the title of the artwork, “Have You Heard”, and the fact that the teller cups his hand around the ear of the listener–the universal signal of secrecy–suggest that this is a depiction of gossip, something that we are not necessarily supposed to hear. This inevitably invites reflection on the ubiquitousness of such types of communication within communities, as well as human beings’ seemingly innate propensity to gossip. After more reflection, I concluded that this piece evokes themes of community through highlighting this form of communication, whose main mode of survival is the desire by humans to keep tabs on their community. The listener’s gaze is directed downwards in a seemingly pensive, reflective manner, indicating interest in what the teller is saying, which is further reflective of this innate human desire. This theme is further reflected by the positioning of the two boys–their bodies overlap, seemingly merging into one, reflective of a unit bigger than the individual.
The use of charcoal stood out as a point of interest in this piece. The dark color of the charcoal contributes to the signature boldness and monochromatism of the piece, which serves as a way to frame the seemingly minor interaction as something deeper and more significant about human nature in general. This medium likewise allowed the sharpness of the children’s facial expressions to shine through, which contributed to the overall theme of the artwork. Standing there, in the upper hall of the EAC on my first day, analyzing a piece that seems like an innocuous interaction but conveys a deeper message gave me an appreciation for art and creativity that I hope to continue to grow throughout my time at the Art Center.