Review of the New Museum: "New Humans: Memories of the Future", Precious Okoyomon's "When the Lambs Rise Up Against the Bird of Prey"

Review of the New Museum: New Humans: Memories of the Future, Precious Okoyomon's When the Lambs Rise Up Against the Bird of Prey

By Alicia Li

    

    After a two-year-long wait, the New Museum opens its doors to its newly renovated building, welcoming visitors to their new exhibition: New Humans: Memories of the Future. The show features more than 150 artists to discuss the history, cultural, and societal changes to our conceptions of what it means to be human and the impacts of new technology. One such artist's work was presented in Precious Okoyomon with her piece titled When the Lambs Rise Up Against the Bird of Prey.

    Okoyomon's piece is tucked away quietly in the stairwell of the older New Museum, which connects the third and fourth floors. The Figure sits within the wall of the stirwell, surrounded by a pinkish-salmon-toned felt that takes on a muscle tissue appearance. The animatronic itself is kneeling, dressed in all white, has blonde hair, and has lamb ears. Within the space, she darts her eyes and upper body around, in an infinite cycle of gazing.

    The figure was designed to play off the tension of predator and prey. Okoyomon originally installed the figure in a forest-like environment, having the animatronic move from a naturalistic place to one that is made of of frabric that mimics bodily organs, encouraging the conversation of predator and prey. Is the figure surrounded by its consumption, or has it been consumed? The New Museum's curatorial choice to place the figure within the stairwell heightens this concept, as well. When I first encountered the piece, I knew something was in the wall. Imagine my horror to find out it was moving as well. This choice was an exceptional one as it forces the viewer into the position of prey while encountering the cultural symbol of prey.