Watching the “Sunset” - Dean to close the Art Video Program
By Natalie Bono
Photos by Xian Liu
Burning plastic wafted across the quad on a brisk afternoon. A video camera, set ablaze by Xuan Liu, 25, a current third-year master’s student in the Art Video program at Syracuse University, burned in response to the closure of the art video program.
“The title of the work is “Sunset,” which is the language they are using when announcing the closure [of the program],” said Liu. “Saying the program is “sunsetting” sounds nice, but actually, it’s something real for all the faculty and students.”
Changes like this are happening across the country, and seeing arts programs shut down across America is not a new story. Liu’s piece “Sunset” addresses more than just the closure of the program but how this plays a larger part in society.
“It’s not only about this particular institution but also about all the young and poor artists, and how they survive in this capitalistic society,” she said. “Why is it important for something, that is seemingly undeveloped or small, to still survive? And to talk about the relationship between survival and diversity and what place art still holds in that society.”
Liu met with Dean Michael S. Tick, of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, to speak with him about the symbolism behind the artwork. Tick was even invited to set the camera on fire himself, but declined the offer and did not attend the performance. However, he suggested Liu find an actor to play him, and Liu did just that.
The performance got permission from the local fire department and DPS. Liu was surprised by the support coming from the fire department, and their willingness to understand the project, asking detailed questions about the size and materials being burned and even crafting a burn barrel for her.
The camera was burned on the quad, across from the Shaffer Art Building. Liu recorded the burn on several cameras, even capturing footage from the camera itself until the fire destroyed it, catching a glimpse of the flames from the inside.
About 20 students gathered to see the performance. The actor, playing Dean Tick, lit the camera on fire and thanked the audience for coming.
This is not Liu’s first art performance and installation, though.
“Throughout the three years in this program, I have found a shift in my creative path from performances in a gallery space, where you can control everything, to engaging with real-time issues,” Liu said.
Liu’s experience at Syracuse in the past three years has been filled with historic moments. In her first year, the Black Lives Matter movement was eye-opening (she is an international student from China, where protests are not common). The pandemic cast its shadow over her second year and still affects classes today. Now in her third year, the closure of her program and the war in Ukraine are new struggles to add to the pandemic. Responding to what is happening around her, Liu is reactive through her work.
“It’s almost fate, it’s something that I have to do with art, which is the only thing that I’m familiar with, that I have the language of,” she said. “I feel like it’s super important and necessary not only to address these issues but to be involved with thoughts, research, debates, and acts around all these struggles that are happening in our real life.”