The latest exhibition by Cannupa Hanska Luger, titled “Dripping Earth,” at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha is a captivating exploration of the artist’s Northern Plains ancestry. As visitors enter the exhibition space, they are greeted by a sense of being underwater, with bull boats sailing overhead, connecting them to the museum’s location along the Missouri River and Luger’s Indigenous heritage.
Luger’s work in “Dripping Earth” is inspired by the 19th-century Swiss artist Karl Bodmer, who documented the landscapes and people he encountered during a North American expedition with Prince Maximilian of Wied. Bodmer’s portraits, often highlighting ceremonial regalia, serve as a valuable record of Indigenous American tribal identity during that time.
Intrigued by the nature of artifacts, Luger explores how narratives are conveyed and received over time. He delves into the process of printmaking and how Bodmer’s paintings were transformed into lithographs, sometimes altering details that were not necessarily inaccuracies. This exploration leads Luger to consider the fluidity of oral traditions within the context of American history.
The exhibition features some of Luger’s largest works to date, including a monumental steel and black clay figure overlooking ceramic vessels and carved wooden objects. One socially engaged piece invites visitors to create clay beads that are added to a sculpture symbolizing the return of wild buffalo to the plains.
Central to “Dripping Earth” are the dancers in Luger’s “Midéegaadi” series, adorned in crocheted fabrics and headdresses resembling bison. These colorful figures are combined with Bodmer’s landscapes in limited-run prints, addressing the absence of Indigenous people in historical landscape paintings.
Luger’s work transcends time and space, intertwining the past, present, and future in a watery realm that represents a speculative future filled with history. The exhibition continues through March 8, 2026, offering a thought-provoking exploration of Indigenous American culture and storytelling.
Additionally, Luger’s “Midéegaadi” dancers have made appearances in public art programs, including a large-scale installation in Times Square and an augmented reality performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These innovative presentations further showcase Luger’s unique blend of tradition and contemporary artistry.
For more information on Cannupa Hanska Luger and his ongoing projects, visit his website and Instagram.
