SF IndieFest: Modernism Inc. + Shahzia Sikander: Melting Boundaries

Modernism Inc.

“Modernism, Inc.” explores the intersection of postwar business, culture and design through the life and career of Eliot Noyes, the iconic architect and designer who built the design programs for IBM, Westinghouse and Mobil Oil. The Noyes story shows how the ideals and ethos of Modernism were embraced by the postwar cultural elite before being challenged in a countercultural backlash. Directed by
Jason Cohn, 78 minutes.

Shahzia Sikander: Melting Boundaries

Known for addressing colonial histories and erasures through traditional Indian and Persian manuscript paintings, Artist Shahzia Sikander is creating two sculptures for her first major public art commission in New York City. “Witness” is installed in Madison Square Park, a short distance from its counterpart, “Now,” sitting atop the Appellate Division, First Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York alongside statues of famous lawmakers like King Louis IV and Moses. Through these pieces, Shahzia reimagines the monument as a marker of boundary-breaking, feminine spirit, and collective visibility. Shahzia’s work is especially timely in light of recent legislative battles surrounding women’s reproductive rights in the United States, as well as the ongoing fight for equitable representation in society at large. Directed by Andrea Yu-Chieh Chung, 10 minutes.