Ultra Violet and IXXI

About a week ago I did a post on Superstar Ultra Violet and learned about an art project she created in 2011 for the 10th anniversary of September 11. It made sense to me to save talk of that topic for today.

According to the artist, while exploring the graphic possibilities of Roman numerals she realized that that particular date (IX XI) forms a palindrome, with a nice visual symmetry. She created a sculpture based on the idea (riffing on Robert Indiana’s LOVE), that she tinted in her signature color, violet, which also happens to be the color of grief and mourning in some countries.

Ultra Violet created numerous works on the motif, and exhibited them at numerous locations in 2011: at Queensborough Community College; at a gallery at New Jersey City University (alongside works on the same theme by Yoko Ono); at the Invisible Dog in Brooklyn (with Pascal Blondeau); and at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Tribeca and Soho, with all their lofts, studios, and galleries, abut the World Trade Center complex. No doubt like so many Ultra Violet stood in the shadow of the towers countless times throughout her career. Their destruction clearly meant enough to her that she spent a great deal of time in creating these works. She also penned this poem on the occasion of that anniversary:

Shattered was my heart on that terrorist day Nightmares haunted my dreams and days Floods of interrogations rushed in Why eternal violence around the world? Is orient waxing? Is occident waning? Am I guilty? Have I been my ‘brother’s keeper’? How to heal the planet and my fractured heart?

It has been 10 years since the event, my heart has mended.

To be grateful for what remains To look at tomorrow with wonder eyes, as a child To forgive, to love unconditionally To embellish the world; America the beautiful To connect truth and beauty To cherish the good will of mankind everywhere.

To give a peaceful, noble, regal tribute is my intention in creating this roman numerical marking of time

For more Travalanche articles and tributes related to September 11, see the dedicated section here and the finding aid here.