Kenneth Tam's exhibition, The Medallion, at Bridget Donahue Gallery highlights the experiences of immigrant taxi drivers affected by the NYC taxi medallion crisis. The gallery is adorned with 370 beaded mats resembling taxi seat covers, prompting visitors to reflect on their steps and the lives of drivers who face economic hardships due to exploitative loans for the medallions. Tam, a Queens native, uses the exhibition to maintain a critical distance, allowing viewers to consider the complexity of the drivers' plight while engaging with the art.
The Medallion is more than an exhibit, it is a story about the circulation of the taxi medallion—a costly permit issued by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.
The gallery floor was transformed by Tam, now blanketed with approximately 370 beaded mats, each made from 100 wooden beads.
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