Cannupa Hanska Luger's 'Dripping Earth' Weaves Ancestral Memory into a Future Vision

1 hour ago7 min read1 comments

At the Joslyn Art Museum, Cannupa Hanska Luger's solo exhibition, 'Dripping Earth,' is not merely a display but a portal. The artist, of Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, Austrian, and Norwegian heritage, masterfully stages an immersive dialogue where deep ancestral knowledge confronts a speculative future.Luger’s monumental works in ceramic, fiber, and repurposed materials are active participants in this narrative, each piece a powerful testament to cultural resilience, ecological memory, and the enduring impact of displacement. Sculptures appear to bleed or weep earth, embodying stories that refuse erasure.This is art that functions as a pivotal act in a grand performance, deepening the emotional resonance and compelling viewers to confront the weight of history alongside the precarious hope for what lies ahead. The exhibition pulls back the curtain on Luger's process, revealing the meticulous research and craftsmanship that inform his visionary world-building.In a profound critique of colonial museum practices, 'Dripping Earth' rewrites the rules of engagement, transforming the gallery from a passive repository into a dynamic, speculative forum where Indigenous knowledge is the primary lens for envisioning new realities. Luger provides no simple conclusions, instead crafting an open-ended narrative that challenges the audience to reflect on their own agency within the ongoing story of our world. A masterclass in material storytelling, 'Dripping Earth' is a transformative encounter where clay and memory fuse, exploring the profound responsibility of carrying the past into an uncertain tomorrow.

#featured

#Cannupa Hanska Luger

#Dripping Earth

#Joslyn Art Museum

#Indigenous art

#speculative future

#contemporary art

#sculpture

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