When you close your eyes and think of our city, what do you see? I see thousands of young people who are thirsty for their futures. I think of a line halfway up Adeline Street for city council public comment. I see a city unafraid to be political and a community unafraid to act outside of the lines. But most notably, when I close my eyes and think of my city, I see a city saturated in art that represents these exact ideals.

I spent my sophomore year on Berkeley’s Civic Arts Commission, and it opened my eyes to the world of public art. Over the last year, Berkeley has faced a deep budget deficit at the hands of federal budget cuts, and our country has faced the extreme fallout of a presidential administration that does not care about our country.

In Berkeley, our art is an extension of our culture. It is unafraid to be political and garish. Our art represents our communities' ability to engage in joy as a form of protest against the current political regime.

If you have ever parked across the street from the Berkeley Rep, you have almost certainly walked past Berkeley’s CubeSpace, a 24/7 cuboid art installation on the ground floor of the Adeline St. Parking Garage. With a constantly rotating installation, the CubeSpace flourishes at displaying provoking art that shamelessly critiques our government, society, and technology.

The current installation, Zahāk, by the Iranian BSisters, is a feminist critique of our falling society. Zahāk serves to remind the viewer of how society’s negative cycles are fed by our environment. It is a massively grotesque display that forces a second glimpse. It begs the viewer: do not look away from what is happening to our country.

PICTURE 1:

ALT TEXT: A photograph of Zahāk by BSisters in Berkeley’s CubeSpace. A glass cube encloses women made of lumps of pink fabric, surrounded by fabric drippings from the ceiling. A pink lumpy fabric toilet is in the background.

Another previous CubeSpace installation, Après moi, le déluge by Mary Anne Kluth, is a critique of the disconnect our society has faced at the hands of AI technology. This piece was constructed with layers of wood hanging from the ceiling; changing your perspective creates a completely new image, and no matter where you stand, you cannot see the whole thing. You will never know the complete artwork; we do not know where AI is taking our society.

PICTURE 2:

ALT TEXT: A photograph of Après moi, le déluge by Mary Anne Kluth in Berkeley’s cube space. A landscape constructed out of painted wood hangs from the ceiling inside a glass cube.

Turning away from the CubeSpace, one has to look no further than Berkeley’s newly opened Art Center. Inscribed on the outside of the building are fluorescent signs announcing it: all are welcome here.

PICTURE 3:

ALT TEXT: A photograph of the outside of Berkeley’s Art Center & its giant ABOLISH ICE sign.
I have not taken this picture yet.

However, just as important as the loud critiques of our government and societal situation are the joys that we as a community engage in the face of despair.

Enchanted Forest, by artist Julie W. Chang, is an appreciation of childhood and whimsy.

Berkeley has a powerful community, which gathered to celebrate its unveiling this February. Prevailing in the face of fascism, this mosaic installed in a neighborhood park serves as a hub for Berkeley’s flourishing community.

PICTURE 4:

ALT TEXT: A photo of the unveiling of Julie W. Chang’s Enchanted Forest Mosaic. A large group of people rip the paper covering off a colorful mosaic below.

My favorite picture I’ve taken this year of Berkeley’s public art is a picture of Ahn Lee’s BaZi 八字: Ancestral Intelligence taken at a child level. The CubeSpace is perpetually covered in tiny fingerprints 3 or 4 feet off the ground, left by children who are just as captivated by the provocative as you and I. BaZi is a work of art that celebrates queerness and Asian culture.

I think this photo represents everything great about our city. Berkeley is for everyone: for queer people, for immigrants, for children, for me, and for you.

PICTURE 5:

ALT TEXT: A photo of the CubeSpace installation BaZi by Ahn Lee. In the foreground are child-sized fingerprints, and the background is a bright red and yellow sculptural art installation.

Art & Joy as Protest