A Vague Sensation of Paradise

Chicago based artist Jeff Carter investigates tourism as an industry that packages cultures and places as exotic travel destinations. Carter’s travels throughout Southeast Asia inspired his interest in the perceived gap between what is touristic and what is authentic in local cultures.

Carter’s plywood crate is similar to those used to ship goods around the world, referring to the global exchange of commodities. The undulating motion of its lid evokes the movement of ocean waves, recalling the serene beauty of tropical beaches. Its waves are hypnotic and calming, but the work suggests that this experience is dependent on the global exchange that commodifies and represents it. Natural beauty is itself advertised like a product and in this work there would be no sensation of paradise without the crate that creates it.