DIGITAL COPY ON MAGZTERAchia Anzi's ‘Shibboleth II’ is a sculptural installation that underscores
the relation between nostalgia for land and the formation of nationalist
identity. By employing the various meanings of shibboleth (a custom, phrase,
or use of language that acts as a test of belonging to, or as a stumbling block
to becoming a member of, a particular social class, profession, etc.) and
by tracing the word to its biblical ‘origin’, the installation offers a poetic
genealogy that foregrounds the politics behind agrarian utopia. The choice
of materials and the constant movement of the iron rods can be seen as a
reflection on the notion of identity in a globalised age. ‘The idea and the
execution vary with every work. In some works the execution plays an
important role. In a way, the execution itself determines the meaning of
the work and not the preconceived idea. The space, the material and their
limitations transform many times the work,’ she says.‘There is obviously a gap
between the intention of the
artist and the perception
of the viewer. And yet, in
a good artwork, the artist
is able to create a language
which communicates with
the viewer. A shared world of
connotations, associations and
meanings enable the work to
communicate.’(^128) / ARTS ILLUSTRATED / FEB 2016 - MAR 2016 / IAF - Delhi Connecting Art