The artist Maya Lin may not be a household name, but she has produced some of the most important monuments in the history of the United States. This lecture will introduce her work with focus on her most famous monuments: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Civil Rights Memorial and What is Missing?, which is a memorial to climate change and endangered species. Lin has an innovative and, at the time of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982), quite controversial perspective on a memorial as a site of introspection rather than glory. We’ll explore this heated history and how Lin’s work asks us to reflect on the role of a memorial, a type of sculpture that typically commemorates war and domination. We examine the incredible impact of her work from early 1980s on how memorials are conceived of today. The purpose of the talk is to think about how public memorial are used to commemorate our shared histories. We’ll come to understand the value of art and the artist in creating spaces of healing and contemplation.

Content warning: this talk will include some images viewers might find difficult, specifically images of victims of napalm and shooting during the Vietnam War. The talk will also address the racism levelled at Lin, an Asian American, during her work on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.

Please, note:

• the total duration of the event is 1 hour ( ~ 50mins lecture and 10mins Q&A)
• the talk doesn’t require any prior training and anyone can join
• This event will be recorded: the video will be available in 3-5 days after the talk
• Guests can access all videos at a small fee; videos for members are free of charge
• if you wish to become a member – please, learn about our membership plans

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SPEAKER – SARAH JAFFRAY

Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. Sarah is currently a lecturer at the University of Arts London and Coordinator for City Lit’s Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah’s current research is focused on translation and empathy.

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