Occam’s razor is a philosophical principle which suggests that the simplest solution to a problem is often the best. As our world continues to change at an increasing rate, it in turn becomes more complicated, which can be threatening and even dangerous to all creatures existing on this planet. To get through these challenging times, we need to go back to basics, and the people most adept at this are artists. Artists are great problem-solvers because they are resourceful, even in the most unimaginable circumstances. For example, what would one do if Manhattan fell victim to a flood of apocalyptic proportions, decimating the city and filling the streets with the bodies of sea animals? The answer: live inside the sea animals, of course! At least that is what Agathe Snow would do. For Snow, a disaster such as this is best faced with instinctive action. Once the basic needs of safety and shelter are met, then the opportunity to regroup, rethink, and rebuild shall arise.

Dikeou Collection is home to

Sludgie the Whale

, an immersive, performative installation Snow originally created for a show at James Fuentes Gallery called

“No Need to Worry, the Apocalypse Has Already Happened… when it couldn’t get any worse, it just got a little better”

in 2007. At the time the work was simply titled

The Whale

, and served as the focal point of a performance in which Snow had participants meet her under the Brooklyn Bridge after a hypothetical storm flooded the city, and from there guided them to the gallery to take refuge inside the belly of her constructed whale. Snow remained present within the whale for the duration of the exhibition where she continued to create artwork and engage with visitors/fellow survivors of the flood. The performative element of the work continues today as new visitors traverse the innards of the whale, contributing to its life story.

The Whale

earned the name Sludgie as the exhibition at Fuentes neared its end, when, by happenstance, a young minke whale became separated from its pod during a storm and got trapped in the Gowanus Canal. The shallow, polluted water of the canal made the whale, well, sludgy, hence the nickname. Despite great efforts to save him, Sludgie did not survive. At the end of the exhibition, Snow gathered guests to the gallery to pay homage to the whale that stole the city’s heart, and named her whale after him. Made of foam, painted tarp, wire, rope, and mesh, Snow installed

Sludgie The Whale

at Dikeou Collection so that he can continue to serve as a place of safety and comfort, with one special added material. Sewn into Sludgie’s guts is a red flannel shirt that once belonged to her late husband, Dash Snow – a loving tribute to him and emblem of her statement: “I would nurture the memory I would connect with the people left behind.”

Apocalypse survivors

In mythic tales like Moby Dick, Jonah in the Bible, and Pinocchio, the whale is a beast to feared and conquered. Today we face much greater beasts. Ones that care not for creatures like Sludgie, nor the places they live or the ideals of harmony they symbolize. It is crucial to remember, though, to not be passive toward these destructive entities and gather strength from friends, family, and neighbors. Agathe reminds us that the key to survival is community action and utilizing local resources. With these two simple strategies, we can seamlessly collaborate and gain power in numbers to overcome the forces that try to keep us down.

- Hayley Richardson