A sculpture prompts reflections on motherhood and loss | Senga Nengudi | UNIQLO ARTSPEAKS

Conservator Megan Randall talks about working on Senga Nengudi’s 1977/2003 sculpture "R.S.V.P I" during a time of personal struggle and loss, and finding in it a sense of comfort and resilience.
Randall adds, “Given how much stigma still exists in this world around pregnancy, miscarriage, and infertility, it is important to me that this video helps normalize some of these issues. Here are some other stories and information that I hope will shed more light on both.”
Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
Lauren Kelley, “You Know Someone Who’s Had a Miscarriage,” The New York Times, Oct. 2019.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...
Meghan Markle, “The Losses We Share,” The New York Times, Nov. 2020.
www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/op...
Infertility
“The psychological impact of infertility and its treatment,” Harvard Mental Health Letter, May 2009.
www.health.harvard.edu/newsle...
Regina Townsend, “The Lasting Trauma of Infertility,” The New York Times, Oct. 2019.
www.nytimes.com/2019/10/23/pa...
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The comments and opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker alone, and do not represent the views of The Museum of Modern Art, its personnel, or any artist.
#SengaNengudi #UNIQLOArtSpeaks #ArtForAll
Seeing grief and longing in art

[@colin6977]

What a perfect example of how seemingly 'pointless' art can be felt so strongly by others. This short video already elicits many facets of Megan's experience. Truly powerful.

[@jessm.porthos]

I appreciate this. Thank you for the personal elements

[@limlish]

Huge shout out to Megan. I appreciate your honesty.

[@kaitlynpeters9010]

Vulnerable and strong- thank you for sharing

[@jacquelineprotka7357]

How powerful to share this personal story, Megan. Thank you. And thank you to Senga Negudi for the work she makes.

[@ellywininger2178]

Beautifully expressed, especially since these are 'difficult' emotions. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@TheyBearRainbow]

Reminds me of the ideas from Death of the Author, where the viewers’ interpretations are much more important than the author’s interpretations because there can be endless numbers of viewers each with their own interpretations

[@alaindezii4445]

love the organic nature of the piece, hearing it explained through Randall's very personal experiences makes the art even more understandable. Thank you for sharing.

[@stregherie4298]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and feelings connected to this work of art, Conservator Randall! We need this!

[@yehonatanlevartovsky4820]

Thank you for telling us your story

[@DigitalCottage]

Powerful sharing and art.

[@petzelgallery]

Poetic and beautiful work

[@juanelllemon4833]

Reflective account brought wider perspective thank you. For me it certainly reflects many of my own changes through aging The work has universal meaning heh? Really, the universe is held I. This work

[@aditighosh5753]

Love it

[@nancywysemen7196]

find the work frightening. motherhood is a shocking venture.a forever venture. wish the conservator well.joy!

[@marymary5494]

👌💕

[@susanhuntley9262]

Art helps us all

[@fashionannadobrzynska1735]

Angel

[@federicapallaverateliercon4705]

What I understand from this video, is that to have the fortune to be exhibit at the MOMA merely depends on personal reasons. Is this perhaps a rationale why most of so-called contemporary art becomes ever more "personalistic"?

[@greengumgrows]

To me somehow this work feels like it represents the strain and the physical disfiguration that pregnancy and motherhood brings on a woman. Going from shapely nylons to sagging sacks of sand

[@ClaudyArfaras]

Funny the lesser the content, the more the narrative... This is another example of how if these objects were displayed on a busy street corner, almost no one would see this work as art... Does that matter or mean anything?