Warhol’s ‘Piss’ Painting, Human Skull, Clutter: Hot Art
A human skull, submerged in a fish tank, occupies the center of Marianne Boesky’s Chelsea gallery.
Piercing light illuminates the head from above. The coral stuck to its cheeks and one eye socket is slowly nibbling away the bone.
Titled “Nowhere to Be Found,” the 2010 piece by Mathias Kessler will eventually disappear thanks to the calcium-loving creatures.
Destruction and creation coexist in “The Nature of Disappearance,” a provocative, two-venue group show organized by Dieter Buchhart. By the time it ends, many works will change their appearance.
In Chelsea, slices of prosciutto on a stem resemble maple leaves. On the opening night the meat was bright red; a day later it shriveled and darkened. A tiered white cake, frosted with larvae, will be eaten up by the bugs once they hatch. There’s also an Edvard Munch landscape covered with bird droppings.
At Boesky’s uptown location, there’s a 1978 Andy Warhol “piss” painting which includes materials such as urine and diamond dust. Continuing the theme of destruction, there’s Lucio Fontana’s slashed and pierced canvases.
Prices range from $5,000 to $1.5 million. The show runs through Aug. 10 at 509 W. 24th St. and at 118 E. 64th St.; +1- 212-680-9889; http://www.marianneboeskygallery.com
Homeless Artist
Vagabond performance artist Dawn Kasper has moved some of her clutter to a space rented by gallery owner David Zwirner.
You may remember her from the Whitney Museum’s biennial, when she hung around a large room filled with her stuff.
For the Zwirner space, Kasper organized a group exhibition titled “Fuel for the Fire.”
“He invited me to be here and do whatever I wanted,” Kasper said in a telephone interview. “I put an open call to friends and I invited them to invite their friends.”
Kasper’s books, records, stuffed bags and a white Singer sewing machine clutter an alcove by the entrance.
The main space and the basement host paintings, installations, photographs and sculptures by about 40 emerging artists. One colorful poster sums it all up: “Very different but much more.”
Prices range from $1,000 to $15,000. The show runs through July 31 at 535 W.20th St.
Poetic Improvisations
At the Newman Popiashvili Gallery, the meditative exhibition “More Songs About Buildings and Food” includes just a few photo-based works by three artists.
A small black-and-white photo by Hungarian-born modernist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946) sets the tone. The tightly cropped image shows a table from above. The composition includes clay pitchers, a bowl of fruit, several knives -- and a collapsed woman. It seems at once random, perfectly choreographed and mysterious.
So are the works by two contemporary artists, Susa Templin and Jude Broughan.
Templin’s washed-out images of people, curtains and tables have a retro look and an experimental feel, in part because they are printed on unframed, curling sheets of paper. In Broughan’s assemblage, original and found photographs of a sunset and sliced fruit are framed by a long strap of unprimed linen.
Prices range from $1,100 to $3,800. The show runs through July 28 at 504 W.22nd St.; +1-212-274-9166; http://npgallery.com.
Muse highlights include Jason Harper on cars and Rich Jaroslovsky on technology.
To contact the reporters of this story: Katya Kazakina in New York at kkazakina@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
'Nowhere to be found'
Marianne Boesky Gallery via Bloomberg
"Nowhere to be found" (2010) by Mathias Kessler, assembled with a human skull and corals. It's part of "The Nature of Disappearance" exhibition at Marianne Boesky's Chelsea and Upper East Side galleries.
"Nowhere to be found" (2010) by Mathias Kessler, assembled with a human skull and corals. It's part of "The Nature of Disappearance" exhibition at Marianne Boesky's Chelsea and Upper East Side galleries. Source: Marianne Boesky Gallery via Bloomberg
'All Good Things Must Come to an End'
Marianne Boesky Gallery via Bloomberg
"All Good Things Must Come to an End" (2011-12) by Marco Evaristti includes raw meat on a plastic stem in a ceramic vase. The meat will rot throughout the exhibition at Marianne Boesky's Chelsea and Upper East Side galleries.
"All Good Things Must Come to an End" (2011-12) by Marco Evaristti includes raw meat on a plastic stem in a ceramic vase. The meat will rot throughout the exhibition at Marianne Boesky's Chelsea and Upper East Side galleries. Source: Marianne Boesky Gallery via Bloomberg
Dawn Kasper Belongings
Dawn Kasper via Bloomberg
Belongings of vagabond artist Dawn Kasper at a gallery space rented by David Zwirner Gallery. Kasper organized a group show, "Fuel for the Fire," in her temporary home.
Belongings of vagabond artist Dawn Kasper at a gallery space rented by David Zwirner Gallery. Kasper organized a group show, "Fuel for the Fire," in her temporary home. Source: Dawn Kasper via Bloomberg
'Fuel for the Fire'
Dawn Kasper via Bloomberg News
An installation view of "Fuel for the Fire," a show organized by Dawn Kasper. The artist is also known for installing her belongings at the Whitney Museum during its biennial.
An installation view of "Fuel for the Fire," a show organized by Dawn Kasper. The artist is also known for installing her belongings at the Whitney Museum during its biennial. Source: Dawn Kasper via Bloomberg News
'Lucia & Table'
Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
"Lucia & Table" by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. The photograph seems at once random, perfectly choreographed and mysterious.
"Lucia & Table" by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. The photograph seems at once random, perfectly choreographed and mysterious. Source: Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
'Flatbush Walk'
Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
"Flatbush Walk" (2011) by Jude Broughan. Broughan's work has a retro look and experimental feel.
"Flatbush Walk" (2011) by Jude Broughan. Broughan's work has a retro look and experimental feel. Source: Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
'Double Room'
Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
"Double Room" (2012) by Susa Templin. Templin's piece is a part of the "More Songs about Buildings and Food" exhibition at Newman Popiashvili Gallery in Chelsea.
"Double Room" (2012) by Susa Templin. Templin's piece is a part of the "More Songs about Buildings and Food" exhibition at Newman Popiashvili Gallery in Chelsea. Source: Newman Popiashvili Gallery via Bloomberg
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