Seeing Red in the Smith Gallery

Jungs work explores Amsterdams Red Light district. Photo by Rae Kuhlman

Behind the velvet curtains that cover its windows, the Smith Gallery is bathed in a seductive rouge glow for Seeing Red, a minimalistic installation by studio art major Elli Jung 16. Three long, rectangular panes of glass hang from the ceiling at right angles to each other, forming a sort of open box. A projector plays a loop of a nighttime street scenea bustling commercial district, apparently seen from across a small body of water, where swans are at play. Apart from the title and Jungs name on the wall, there is no text to describe the piece.

Jung, however, is happy to open up about the background of her installation. The piece is a follow-up to the research project she conducted during her off-campus study program in Amsterdam last semester in which she investigated the past, present and future of the citys famous Red Light District.

Prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, but this has by no means resolved the many issues associated with prostitution.

I did a lot of writing, a lot of journaling and [made] observations, meeting with sex workers, talking with women who were previously sex workers, looking at the lives of sex workers in a place where sex work is decriminalized, Jung said. Theyre still stigmatized.

The Dutch government has also been gradually trimming the number of the Red Light Districts windowssmall storefront cabins where sex workers stand to attract clients, and can negotiate by opening the window, in actuality a door that opens only from the inside. Jung said that by 2020, there will only be 50 such windows in the Red Light District, out of the 500 allowed by the government in 2000.

Thats a concern because the women are going to be out of jobs, Jung said. And when they apply for a job they face stigma from their prior work.

Jung says that sex trafficking still remains a problem in Amsterdam, though it has been eliminated in the Red Light District.

What Ive discovered is that [with legalization,] theres more to promote healthier practices, safer practices, having police support and government support, to the industry to make sure [sex workers] are protected. I think thats very important, Jung said.

With her sparing use of materials, Jung attempted to recreate the Red Light Districts sensuous atmosphere, which she analogizes to an erotic amusement park.

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Seeing Red in the Smith Gallery