New exhibit explores human immigration and xenophobia through the lens of invasive species
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
608 Sheboygan AvenueSheboygan, WI
Now through February 18, 2024
 
Sunny Leerasanthanah, Certain Aliens, 2023; Photo: Justin Wolf
HD Video. Courtesy of the artist.
In a newly commissioned multimedia installation, artist Sunny Leerasanthanah uses invasive species as a lens to look at human immigration and xenophobia in the United States.
In one video, three actors role-play as American National Park Service rangers and respond to prompts about invasive species, while deconstructing xenophobic ideas and language, and using satire as a guiding tool to explore lived experiences and belonging.
In a second video, a collection of audio recordings taken in nature accompanies multicolored lights that are cast upon macro views of the environment, such as a single blade of grass or waves crashing on a beach. These intense close frames, bathed in vivid hues, create alien-like forms and horror film innuendos, suggesting ulterior motives of entities that might overtake an environment in its entirety.
Leerasanthanah’s reflection on the similarity in language and discourse used regarding both invasive species and xenophobia speaks to her own experience in survival and assimilation in the United States as a queer immigrant of color. |