Constantly focused on showcasing the dark side of the conservative and excluding politics through poetic installations, Icy & Sot recently created a series of temporary installations on the Mexican border close to San Diego. This self-initiated project was realized only a few weeks ago in collaboration with artists' friend, Spencer Little, who lives in the region.
Having the personal experience of immigrants seeking a new life in a foreign country, Iranian brothers we featured in Winter 2018 issue have been very affected with the recent pressure of Trump's administration to build/finish the wall. "Wall would be useless since there is already a wall and so many border patrols, so many migrants have given their life looking for a better future for their loved ones crossing that border," the brothers told us when asked about the motive for this recent action.
Without any bigger agenda or plan for their work, they've created 3 temporary installations which were captured on film and video. "We wanted to make works about the stupid borders so we decided to go to make installations right on the border," Icy & Sot told us and added, "it was strange to see the ocean and people divided on that beach." Avoiding the 24/7 border security at the Border Field State Park, they managed to create the Tenacity of Hope install they build with the "wire wizard", Spencer Little, right next to the barrier that pierces the Pacific ocean. Showing a canoe and paddle made of wire fence and washed ashore, right next to the massive man-made railing, this strong image stands as a monument to the human will to overcome any obstacles by any means in desperate situations.
From there they drove to Campo, CA, where they've created a door installation and shot a short video piece. The door was installed on an existing fence, with a mirror inside of it creating an effective illusion of a free passage, the ultimate dream for all the migrant worldwide. The video piece is showing a section of a sturdy barrier reflected in the mirror and getting shattered into pieces with a hit of a single stone. Again celebrating the power of bare-handed humans battling most elaborate and efficient barrier systems in a desperate hope to save their lives and provide better chances for their families. —Sasha Bogojev
Check out Icy & Sot's new project in Times Square, NYC, on view now through March 31st. Done in collaboration with Spring Break and TSQarts
