This is a preview for Richard Mosse's Broken Spectre. It is a continuation of his connection to Portland.
Mosse presented Enclave in the 2013 Venice Biennale. PAM Director Ferriso brought it soon after for an installation at the museum. A first for the artist. It tells part of the story of the war of warlords terrorizing Eastern Congo. It is a continuation of the Rwandan war of 1994. I was in Eastern Congo in about July 1994.
The Congo warlords are fueled by primitive mining including tantalum. The tantalum is smuggled to China where it is made into an electronic component, a tantalum capacitor. They are an electrical shock absorber to make the bit signals electronic systems actually work. Every electonic device uses large numbers of them.
Mosse is a product of the Yale School. Many graduates of that program do great work in the Arbus gaze. Mosse puts Yale's documentary approach to much more potent use.
Mosse is now engaged with the Converge 45, presenting art this Summer. Converge 45 was a response to the decline of PICA. PICA was a response to disinterest by the Portland Art Museim in Art on the Edge.
As a preview, the NYT talks Broken Spectre. There are many articles and videos on the project you can find. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/arts/design/richard-mosse-film-amazon-brazil.html
Brazil also has a mining problem, leading to a violence problem, and a pollution problem as outside miners use cyanide to separate gold from mud. The cyanide is, of course, poured in the river.
Mosse is articulate, passionate, and humble. Don't miss his work.
