Tag: greek

‘Chroma’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

See Greek and Roman sculpture like never before in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new show ‘Chroma,’ which presents reconstructions of ancient sculpture in vivid tones based on traces of original pigment.  Using tools like multispectral photography, German professor Dr V. Brinkmann and Dr U. Koch-Brinkmann of the Liebieghaus sculpture collection in Frankfurt, Germany reveal how ancient Mediterranean cultures favored vibrant color.  Join me on a Met Museum highlights tour to see these works and more.  (On view through March 26th, 2023).

Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann, Reconstruction of a marble statue of a woman wrapping herself in a mantle (so-called Small Herculaneum Woman). Marble stucco on plaster cast, natural pigments in egg tempera, gold foil, 2019.

Kyle Staver at Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects

A faintly suggested head of blond hair and delicate facial features on Ganymede as he is abducted by Zeus – an eagle with a wizened expression – succinctly tell an ancient tale in Kyle Staver’s graphically simple, wonderfully imagined reworking of the Greek myth. (At Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects on the Lower East Side through Oct 11th).

Kyle Staver, Ganymede, oil on canvas, 68 x 58 inches, 2015.

Yinka Shonibare at James Cohan Gallery

Few these days think that the gods are responsible when an earthquake or tsunami hits, but British/Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare pictures the wrath of Zeus (background) and Poseidon (front right) to comment on climate change in his latest solo show at James Cohan Gallery. Placed directly on the floor in their bold (signature Shonibare) fabrics, the gender-bending divine dancers emanate power.

Yinka Shonibare, installation view of ‘Rage of the Ballet Gods’ at James Cohan Gallery, May 2015.

Allyson Vieira at Metro Tech Center by Public Art Fund

The roughly cut blocks of Allyson Vieira’s sculptures resemble the caryatids of Greek architecture but in an updated, futuristic way.  We enjoyed versions made with drywall at Laurel Gitlen Gallery on last March’s Lower East Side tour, but it’s perfect to see them outdoors in proximity to a Greek-style façade at Brooklyn’s Metro Tech Center.  (Through Sept 16th).     

Allyson Vieira, ‘Weight Bearing V, Weight Bearing VI, Weight Bearing VII,’ 2012.

‘The Boxer’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Further to yesterday’s post, this late 4th – 2nd century BC Greek bronze is another reason to visit the Met sooner rather than later.   On view in the Greek and Roman galleries through Sunday, this remarkably detailed depiction of a boxer fresh from a fight even includes copper inlay to convey cuts to the face and ear as well as an altered alloy under one eye to suggest bruising.  

Boxer at Rest, Greek, Hellenistic period, late 4th – 2nd century B.C., bronze inlaid with copper.  Lent by Republic of Italy, 2013.