Exhibitions
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
What Manner of Person Art Thou? is an exhibition of Erin Cosgrove’s animated work of the same title. Structured around the seven deadly sins and inspired by the 11th century Bayeaux Tapestry, What Manner of Person Art Thou? is a 65-minute animated video that relates the twisted tale of two anachronistic believers who mete out punishment to those they deem to be evil. It darkly allegorizes the hazards of morality and the corruption of modern life. Erin Cosgrove is an artist and writer who uses video, animation, books, painting, scrolls, timelines, installation, and performance.
In her description of the piece, the artist wrote, “Identifying with angels of death, Yoder and Troyer wander the U.S. and dispense violent justice on those they perceive to be evil-doers. Within this black comedy structure, they act as a well-intentioned but ultimately bungling conscience for our times. As a satire on the corruptibility of faith, Yoder and Troyer’s tale is meant to invoke Francisco Goya’s caution in Los Caprichos, ‘The sleep of reason produces monsters. ’ ”
What Manner of Person Art Thou? is presented concurrently with Designing Egos and John’s Luv.
Artist’s Website: Erin Cosgrove website.
SUPPORT
What Manner of Person Art Thou? is supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; the College of Architecture and the Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago; and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.