Creative Time presents The Privilege of Escape, Risa Puno's largest and most ambitious installation to date. The public art project will be on view at Onassis USA in New York City from July 18 - August 11, 2019.
Referencing escape rooms-immersive environments where groups solve a series of hands-on puzzles against the clock-this project distills the complexity of the term privilege by examining it within the context of a thrilling game.
Upon arrival, attendees find themselves cast as subjects in a study conducted by a cutting-edge institute. In the experiment, groups will race against the clock to solve a series of interactive, sculptural puzzles designed by the artist that resemble popular board games. Each successfully solved puzzle will unlock a new clue to help attendees advance. Puno's aim is to use this disarmingly playful environment to create pathways of exchange and understanding around the topic of social inequity, making space for open-minded dialogue about what privilege is and how it plays a role in our lives.
"Playing an escape room can elicit surprisingly real emotions-even though it's just for fun without anything at stake. You really do feel visceral highs and lows during the course of the game," said Risa Puno. "It's been exciting (and challenging) to explore how to use this format to create an experiential metaphor for serious social issues that still manages to be fun."
Subverting the format of this popular group pastime, Puno has constructed an experience that encourages participants to think about how privilege functions in society - and to what end. The term "privilege" is loaded and confusing for many, often triggering strong emotions that undermine constructive conversations. Inspired by the game of life, where societal rules are often arbitrary, fixed, and unfair, The Privilege of Escape showcases Puno's ability to introduce complex social issues through play, innovative game design, and puzzle logic.
Risa Puno was selected from over 600 applicants from Creative Time's inaugural open call for New York-based emerging artists - the first initiative of its kind in Creative Time's 40+ year history, created by the organization's new executive director Justine Ludwig. This is Ludwig's first time at the helm of a Creative Time public art project.
"Risa's project speaks beautifully to Creative Time's history and mission. This project relies on its public in order to be fully realized, challenges the traditional boundaries of art, and poses pressing questions about the world we live in, said Creative Time Executive Director Justine Ludwig. "It has been inspiring to work with an artist earlier in her career to accomplish what is truly a dream project. We wanted to flip the script by supporting the future of the field."
This is the first time Creative Time has partnered with Onassis USA, the New York-based cultural foundation.
"Onassis USA is thrilled and honoured to be hosting and supporting Risa Puno and Creative Time to make a new work in our space," said Onassis USA's Artistic Executive Director
Vallejo Gantner. "Creative Time's remarkable vision of access to art at the highest levels is an inspiration to our own practice and organisation. We're humbled they've chosen to work with us."
Tickets for The Privilege of Escape will be available starting Monday, June 24th.
Onassis USA is an organization which for over 19 years, in collaboration with Onassis Stegi in Athens, has been dedicated to culture, community, and education, with projects that can effectively inspire social change and justice across borders.
Creative Time, the New York based public arts non-profit, is committed to working with artists on the dialogues, debates, and dreams of our time. Creative Time presents the most innovative art in the public realm, providing new platforms to amplify artists' voices, including the Creative Time Summit, an international conference convening at the intersection of art and social justice. Since 1974, Creative Time has produced over 350 groundbreaking public art projects that ignite the imagination, explore ideas that shape society, and engage millions of people around the globe. Since its inception, the non-profit organization has been at the forefront of socially engaged public art, seeking to convert the power of artists' ideas into works that inspire and challenge the public. Creative Time projects stimulate dialogue on timely issues, and initiate a dynamic experience between artists, sites, and audiences.
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