Occhiolino is a miniature installation within an installation. Viewers see details of tiny dioramas through binoculars, reflecting our tenuous connections during the pandemic.
Occhiolino invites viewers to consider the fragility of our connections in a time of global upheaval. Created in collaboration with 10 young adults in a workforce development group (PUGGs), the project asked participants to share their perspectives during the pandemic in tiny dioramas, each housed under a small clear dome. The framing for their worlds was created in the form of joyous renewal: giant paper flowers.
As viewers peer through binoculars, they encounter tiny surreal worlds filled with plants, birthday parties, and protests – all symbolic of the strange and transformative experiences we’ve all endured.
The project reflects on how the significance of being human has been challenged in recent years by an invisible virus, widespread recognition of racial injustice, and climate-driven disasters. Despite these daunting forces, the sense of community and shared experience persists. In the center of each bloom lies a glimpse into the worldviews of young adults aged 17-21 as they navigate this era, offering insight into how a generation is processing the changes and uncertainties that define our time.
Team: Occhiolino (the little eyepiece) is a collaboration with 10 young adults who are part of a workforce development group, Popup Gallery Group (PUGGs).
Artists:
Joanna Ruiz
Maizy Milliken
Gia Boolukus
Vera Wilde
Chris Mascilino
Colin Secore
Nick Carroll
Kaya Keller
Angel Brown
Dezha King
Exhibited:
Featured as a part of the O+ festival at the Pinkwater Gallery in Kingston, NY.
📸 @jessicajamesonphoto
❤️ good vibes and support: Beth Humphrey and Lindsey Wolkowicz