Tim Shaw

An exploration of global terrorism, freedom of speech, and artificial intelligence as expressed through six thought-provoking installations. Northern Irish sculptor Tim Shaw creates psychologically charged environments that address humanitarian issues designed to unsettle and provoke thought. His work raises questions about difficult and controversial topics such as global terrorism and abuse of power. From recreating a childhood memory of an IRA bombing in a Belfast café in 'Mother The Air is Blue, The Air Is Dangerous' to speaking directly to viewers about moral conflicts in 'The Birth of Breakdown Clown', Shaw examines the human condition through immersive installations, mixed media sculpture, as well as related drawings and maquettes. The themes in this exhibition are universal to art throughout history, yet speak to today's specific challenges. All these works lay bare notions of our humanity - from abuses of power and the threat of terrorism to the use of money to silence free speech. These are works charged with the civics of our times, our role in society, and our future as human beings. -- San Diego Museum of Art website