Is Your Hope My Anxiety?

How does our relationship with the present color our sense of the future? Inspired by the collective spirit of Tibetan prayer flags, artist Candy Chang and writer James A. Reeves invite Rubin Museum visitors to engage with their community by sharing their anxieties or hopes on the Museum’s ground floor Spiral Wall over the course of 2018. Collectively titled A Monument for the Anxious and Hopeful, these responses create a dialogue between participants and reflect a living catalogue of the ways in which we relate to the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Below, Chang and Reeves share their thoughts about engaging communities in public spaces and the awareness of self-liberation as a means to reveal the truth.

—Jane Hsu, Head of Interpretation and Engagement, Rubin Museum

The line between anxiety and hope is rather blurry, as both moods are defined by a moment that has yet to arrive. Being anxious or hopeful is a low-level form of prophecy—and the reasons for our forecasts are fascinating, because in the end, it’s usually a strange cocktail of the personal, spiritual, and scientific that leads us to claim that tomorrow will be better or worse.

Right now we’re living through a uniquely unsettled moment of technological, political, and social flux. As we each wrestle with our own private anxieties and hopes for the future, perhaps it might offer some measure of reassurance to see the ways others are reckoning with the uncertainties of tomorrow.

Each new headline brings a fresh opportunity for faith or despair, and we expect there will be many areas of overlap between these moods. Seeing why the same issue inspires optimism in one person and dread in another can point us toward the gray areas we share. We need these gray areas more than ever, because these days of breakneck change aren’t going to end anytime soon—this ride is probably only going to get faster and stranger.

We’ve forgotten how to have conversations, particularly the important ones, which might help us find common ground, such as discussions about the conditions of mortality, faith, and doubt that bind us together. We hope this public invitation to share our inner lives without judgment creates a way of moving us toward one another.

Anonymity plays an important role in works like A Monument for the Anxious and Hopeful. In a public space, anonymity can encourage vulnerability without fear of judgment. It can lead to some honest responses about depression, anxiety, grief, and other topics we often avoid. Among the many aspects that determine our overall health, emotional well-being is often neglected and considered taboo to discuss. Anonymous spaces reveal how quickly we will expose our struggles when given the right conditions.

We hope the responses to this project lead to genuine conversations about the big things we have in common, such as the fact that we’re all a tangled mess of insecurity, wonder, and pain.

Hopes and Anxieties from Rubin Visitors

I’m hopeful because blades of grass grow through cracks in a sidewalk. • I’m anxious because we choose not to recognize each other’s humanity. • I’m hopeful because I’m feeling more teachable! • I’m anxious because I forget to trust. • I’m hopeful because I feel I have more insight and control over my life. • I’m anxious because too many people don’t listen to others, especially if they disagree.• I’m hopeful because young people are exposed to more and more sensitive discussions on treating women ethically and nonviolently. • I’m anxious because I see such a high level of tension and distance between people of differing opinions. • I’m hopeful because there’s always something around the corner that could be wonderful. • I’m anxious because my husband’s health is deteriorating and I’m carrying too much responsibility. • I’m hopeful because there’s always a new beginning. • I’m anxious because I’m starting a new period in my life, work, love, living. It’s all so new.• I’m hopeful because I enjoy following along with life’s surprises. It will all be new. • I’m anxious because the threat to the environment becomes more real every day. • I’m hopeful because there are a lot of people waking up and becoming more loving. • I’m anxious because the world is changing, with daily traumas and hateful intentions. Where do I fit? How can I get any peace of mind? • I’m hopeful because we are all united through a primal humanity. • I’m anxious because there are many things I can’t predict or control about the state of our country and how it will affect my family and friends. • I’m hopeful because I am, as long as I breathe. • I’m anxious because of kindergarten. • I’m hopeful because so many of the young people I know are striving for justice and equality for all. • I’m anxious because there is too much pain and suffering. • I’m hopeful because more people are engaged in the political process than ever before. • I’m anxious because I don’t know what’s next. • I’m hopeful because life is full of new opportunities every day! • I’m anxious because life is hard sometimes. • I’m hopeful because I have good relationships with family and friends. • I’m anxious because I have a lot of student loans. • I’m hopeful because I’m seeing Granny and Granddad. • I’m anxious because I feel trapped at my job. • I’m hopeful because everything is temporary. • I’m anxious because of the health of the planet. • I’m hopeful because there are opportunities. • I’m anxious because of the state of our country. • I’m hopeful because I am always trusting the universe. • I’m anxious because our president sucks. • I’m hopeful because I have a wonderful family. • I’m anxious because I’m afraid of dying alone. • I’m hopeful because I am working for change. • I’m anxious because my physical body is so fragile. • I’m hopeful because sometimes life is really beautiful. • I’m anxious because I’m not sure I’m good enough.• I’m hopeful because that’s my faith—always positive. • I’m anxious because the flu is going around.• I’m hopeful because recognizing the problem allows movement towards the solution. • I’m anxious because my boss won’t answer my emails. • I’m hopeful because humanity seems to grow increasingly educated, compassionate, and progressive. • I’m anxious because Wednesday is Valentine’s Day. • I’m hopeful because I have a job interview tomorrow. • I’m anxious because my boyfriend left me after four years. • I’m hopeful because artists continue to have a voice. • I’m anxious because crazies rule the world at the moment. • I’m hopeful because the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice. • I’m anxious because I can’t control the things I love. • I’m hopeful because there is good in this world. • I’m anxious because I haven’t committed to who I really am. • I’m hopeful because there is possible change in the future. • I’m anxious because college is $. • I’m hopeful because the creator of the universe is benevolent. • I’m anxious because midterms are approaching. • I’m hopeful because of the humanity in all of us. • I’m anxious because I have no idea what I’m doing ever. • I’m hopeful because my physical body is capable of so much. • I’m anxious because I will die. • I’m hopeful because my children and I are healthy. • I’m anxious because I’m hungry. • I’m hopeful because on the local level everything is good. • I’m anxious because people are addicted to cell phones! • I’m hopeful because of Thea. • I’m anxious because I ran out of Xanax. • I’m hopeful because I may get a major book deal next week. • I’m anxious because people don’t look up anymore. • I’m hopeful because I’m realizing it’s okay to make choices and sacrifices to take care of myself. • I’m anxious because I cannot trust our leaders. • I’m hopeful because I have goals. • I’m anxious because I have so many people I love in my life & the world is crazy today! • I’m hopeful because I have a bright future ahead of me. • I’m anxious because I want to break free of my past. • I’m hopeful because I’m quitting my job. • I’m anxious because it feels like we are past the point of saving this planet 🙁 • I’m hopeful because I am on a path to wellness • I’m anxious because I get lost on the path to myself sometimes. • I’m hopeful because love overcomes all! • I’m anxious because I’m not sure what I’m good at. • I’m hopeful because I love my family. • I’m anxious because nothing is permanent. • I’m hopeful because it gets better. • I’m anxious because new beginnings. • I’m hopeful because I believe in myself and know I can achieve my dreams. • I’m anxious because the world is falling apart • I’m hopeful because my mother is becoming more accepting of others. • I’m anxious because there’s no time to stop—I have to move forward. • I’m hopeful because I am surrounding myself with amazing people! • I’m anxious because I fear that I will never reach my full potential. • I’m hopeful because I’ve been given today and the beauty that fills it! • I’m anxious because of global tensions, a broken healthcare system, climate change, getting old. • I’m hopeful because things can’t get much worse! • I’m anxious because I’m embarking on a new chapter—adulthood. *eek!* • I’m hopeful because there are a lot of good things out there, too. • I’m anxious because I don’t want to disappoint myself. • I’m hopeful because my two adorable fluffy orange cats restore my faith in today’s world! • I’m anxious because I don’t know what makes me happy. • I’m hopeful because the sun rises every morning. • I’m anxious because of the rat race mentality. • I’m hopeful because places like this exist in the world. • I’m anxious because I feel like I have a long way to go. • I’m hopeful because I feel God’s presence. • I’m anxious because I might not get what I want.• I’m hopeful because Enrico’s in the world. • I’m anxious because college is $$$ • I’m hopeful because life will work itself out! • I’m anxious because I need to figure out where my LIFE is going! • I’m hopeful because all is well <3 • I’m anxious because I want my daughter to be in less physical pain.• I’m hopeful because too many people make me SMILE • I’m anxious because I can’t control EVERYTHING. • I’m hopeful because I’m learning to let go. • I’m anxious because of first gen immigrant pressure. • I’m hopeful because the future is full of opportunities and possibilities. • I’m anxious because people only seem willing to change when something bad happens to them. • I’m hopeful because art heals people. • I’m anxious because I have no idea what I’m doing. Ever. • I’m hopeful because there is so much good in the world—we have to look for it! • I’m anxious because nothing is original. • I’m hopeful because the days are getting longer. • I’m anxious because of my two kids. • I’m hopeful because I must be. • I’m anxious because I work for a nonprofit whose public funding is at risk of being taken• I’m hopeful because I believe in myself. • I’m anxious because not enough girls in the world are getting an education. • I’m hopeful because I am in love <3 • I’m anxious because we seem to have confused domination for strength. • I’m hopeful because I have so much love in my life. • I’m anxious because I created another life. • I’m hopeful because kids could learn to open consciousness. • I’m anxious because of cancer. • I’m hopeful because I’ve accepted that it’s OK that I don’t know what the h*ll I’m doing with my life! • I’m anxious because I keep putting off physical exercise. • I’m hopeful because I’m learning to love myself! <3 <3 • I’m anxious because I haven’t committed to who I really am . . . • I’m hopeful because I get to explore and make things with the person I love. • I’m anxious because I don’t know how to help my friend.• I’m hopeful because kindness is contagious. • I’m anxious because I’m uncertain about future success.• I’m hopeful because my family is healthy. • I’m anxious because I don’t know what’s happening with my body. • I’m hopeful because God gives me hope (Alhamdulillah). • I’m anxious because I think too much. • I’m hopeful because I have a bake sale on Wednesday!! • I’m anxious because new beginnings. • I’m hopeful because the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice.”

A Monument for the Anxious and Hopeful was on view at the Rubin Museum from February 10 to November 11, 2018.