Kapwani Kiwanga's installation, Plotting Rest, at Desert X 2025, juxtaposes iconic modernism and historical consciousness with its structural design. The artwork, made of interlocking geometric triangles, presents a canopy that offers no true shelter, reflecting on the optimisms of midcentury architecture while revealing its exclusionary heritage. Influenced by the legacy of the Underground Railroad, the quilt-inspired motifs serve as ciphers for survival and navigation, inviting contemplation of past journeys toward freedom within the stark landscape of Coachella Valley. The piece prompts viewers to consider themes of endurance, fragility, and the nuanced history of the desert.
Kapwani Kiwanga's Plotting Rest, situated in the Coachella Valley, embodies architectural reflections that challenge the promise of safety in modernism by offering only an illusion of protection.
The minimalist pavilion serves as a powerful historical reference, integrating the 'flying geese' quilt pattern to signify covert routes for escape, reminding viewers of resilience amid harsh conditions.
Kiwanga critiques midcentury architecture through her design, highlighting the tension between endurance and fragility, and revealing the exclusionary narratives often omitted from its polished image.
This installation resonates deeply as a rest stop on a speculative journey, compelling visitors to pause and reflect on the layered histories of the desert landscape.
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