From On the River
Mark Dion
The Artist:
Born in 1961, artist Mark Dion says the job of the artist is "to go against the grain of dominant culture, to challenge perception and convention".
The Work:
Dion's work "examines the ways in which dominant ideologies and public institutions shape our understanding of history, knowledge, and the natural world". Through manipulating the meanings between objects which seem scientific and fictitious settings, the artist challenges the viewer to make new connections between these objects and their surroundings.
Where He Fits With Civic Studio:
Dion collects many archaeological objects which many take for granted. He finds particular fascination with old objects found in old museums, and how the people of the time identified or felt about these objects. Through exhibiting these objects in new ways, Dion creates a dialogue between the objects and their surrounding.
We in Civic Studio can connect to this action of collecting public objects, and call attention to their significance through manipulating their meanings.
