Exhibition

The Privilege of Escape

18 Jul 2019 – 11 Aug 2019

Regular hours

Thursday
10:00 – 18:00
Friday
10:00 – 18:00
Saturday
10:00 – 18:00
Sunday
10:00 – 18:00
Tuesday
10:00 – 18:00
Wednesday
10:00 – 18:00

Cost of entry

FREE admission, registration required

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Creative Time presents The Privilege of Escape, Risa Puno’s largest and most ambitious installation to date.

About

DETAILS:
The Privilege of Escape by Risa Puno presented by Creative Time
July 18th - August 11th
Hours vary
Advance registration required, tickets are free
Onassis USA
645 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022

Referencing escape rooms—immersive environments where groups solve a series of hands-on puzzles against the clock—this project distills the complexity of privilege by placing it in context of a thrilling game. Upon arrival, attendees find themselves cast as subjects in a study conducted by a cutting-edge institute. In the experiment, groups will race against the clock to solve a series of interactive, sculptural puzzles designed by the artist that resemble popular board games.   

While seemingly familiar, attendees discover that in this adventure, the rules have changed. As the clock ticks, players must adapt to the new conditions, unlock clues, and solve their way out of the room. Puno’s aim is to use this disarmingly playful environment to create pathways of exchange and understanding around the topic of social inequity.

The Privilege of Escape is not your average escape room. Subverting the format of this popular group pastime, Puno has constructed an experience that encourages participants to think about how privilege functions in society – and to what end. The term “privilege” is loaded and confusing for many, often triggering strong emotions that undermine constructive conversations. Inspired by the game of life, where societal rules are often arbitrary, fixed, and unfair, The Privilege of Escape showcases Puno’s ability to introduce complex social issues through play, innovative game design, and puzzle logic.   

What is an escape room? Escape rooms are live-action games where players work together to find clues, complete puzzles, and solve their way out of a room before time runs out. To win, players must let go of assumptions and reorient their perspective in order to understand the prescribed environment. It is, at times, frustrating, exhilarating, stressful, and fun. Puno’s aim is to use the disarming environment to create pathways of exchange and understanding around complex topics, distilling them from their real world applications and placing them within the context of a thrilling game. Her ultimate hope is that the experience makes space for open-minded dialogue, and that participants develop a fundamental understanding of what privilege is.

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Exhibiting artistsToggle

Risa Puno

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