Elliot Hilden, managing editor

The Augsburg Galleries are a creative experience run by the Design & Agency group embedded in the Graphic Design program at Augsburg. This group is structured by the mentorship of professors to help students involved find meaningful solutions. According to their website, the mission of the galleries “is to serve our community through supporting the innovation and experimentation of visual artists as they foster creativity, conversation, engagement, and critical thinking.”

The most recent gallery experience ran from Jan. 23 through March 3. It was titled “Sonmat,” a Korean term that refers to “hand taste,” or the unique quality infused into a meal by the person who made it. This exhibition used the work of seven artists, who each had brought their own “hand taste” to the exhibit, exploring what “care” can mean and look like across various individual life experiences. They did this through the illusion of a home, with rooms such as the bathroom, bedroom and living room creating unique narratives within them. The artists included in this gallery are Young Joo Lee, Ahree Lee, Lauren McCarthy in collaboration with David Leonard, Liz Nurenberg, Yoshie Sakai and Hannah Kim Varamini. 

While visiting this gallery, I was particularly enamored by the “bedroom” exhibit. The room was separated from the other section of the gallery by a hanging curtain, and inside there was a simple bed and two chairs. Above the bed, there was a video projected on the wall. The video, titled “I.A. Suzie,” was created by Lauren Lee McCarthy in collaboration with David Leonard, and put the viewer into the point of view of a virtual care system, giving perspective on the ethical challenges related to A.I. 

I also enjoyed the Liz Nurenberg sculptures. They encouraged connection with the audience, inviting people to imitate the gestures that are commonly used when handling digital devices. I found it intriguing to note that we don’t really pay attention to how our hands move when we are using our devices, but that it can be so easily boiled down in sculpture. At first glance, it can be hard to know what the sculptures mean or how they relate to technology, but as you mimic the gestures it becomes apparent what each one is. I found that idea fascinating. 

Unfortunately, the “Sonmat” exhibit did just close, but be sure to keep an eye out for when the galleries open up again! You can come and go as you please, so even if you only have five minutes to spare, they are definitely worth checking out!