"I have transitioned through three citizenships in addition to one period of being a citizen of no country," Tanja Softic says in her artist's statement. "In both my old and new countries, outdated notions of national and ethnic identity and belonging continue to shape the politics and the society."
A prominent visual artist, Softic's work is currently on display at the Tufts University Art Gallery in her "Migrant Universe" exhibit. The exhibition is something of a meditation on themes of exile, national identity and memory. According to handouts at the gallery, the artist first imagined this collection as a "visual poem," presenting visitors with layered symbols and images to convey complex meaning.
Her fascinating intellectual approach to "Migrant Universe" and the body of work itself seem to bring together biographical elements of Softic's life. After emigrating from Bosnia and Herzegovina (which was, at the time, a part of Yugoslavia), Softic is now citizen of the United States and a Professor of Art at the University of Richmond in Virginia. While it is clear that that this collection represents a personal and emotional journey, it is also deeply thought-provoking and intensely applicable to a wide range of experiences outside her own.
For instance, one wall of the gallery displays the words of the late Edward Said, a Palestinian-American writer and intellectual: "Exiles are aware of at least two [cultures] and this plurality of vision gives rise to an awareness of simultaneous dimensions ... vivid, actual, occurring together contrapuntally." By referencing Said's work, "Migrant Universe" challenges visitors to think about Softic's exhibit in a variety of contexts and not simply as the autobiographical product of the artist.
However, the best representation of the message of "Migrant Universe" is, of course, the artwork. The pieces - made of acrylic, pigment, charcoal and chalk on handmade paper - frequently juxtapose natural and scientific images. For instance, "Angel of Becoming" places the silhouettes of flying birds, wispy clouds and a tree branch across a background of curving lines, the imagined map of a black hole.
Similarly, "Night in the Garden" features looping strings of pearls, tipped bowls pouring milk and the unmistakable image of a satellite dish. These two pieces reflect a certain friction between the natural and the man-made, yet also emphasize points of connection. Both orbital in shape, the web of the black hole and the dish are reminiscent of one another, and each one offers a forcible means of connection: the black hole through universal oblivion and the satellite through virtual communication.
Reoccurring images in Softic's work, such as birds, bowls and webs, speak not only of the contrasting images within the artist's journey, but also present the many undeniable forms of connection that bring people together, as well as that divide them. The result is an exhibition that explores, in equal parts, the concepts of "migrant" and "universe."
While this is only one interpretation of her work, the gallery also provides information on Softic's own understanding of the art. Look for the "Guide to Tanja Softi?'s Symbols" - a pamphlet that complements the exhibition - in the gallery to read more about the artist's association with the images present in her work.
Visitors who wish to see Softic's work can see it on the lower level of the Koppelman Family Gallery and in Remis Sculpture Court in the Aidekman Arts Center. "Migrant Universe" debuted at Tufts on Jan. 30 and will remain open until April 27. During the semester, the gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is suggested.
