‘Carnival’ at Jeffrey Deitch’s cavernous SoHo gallery packs in a miniature train, a merry-go-round, a bevy of costumed mannequins and dozens of artworks in a tour de force of surprise, discomfort and optical overload. Featuring works by renowned artists from Red Grooms to Derek Fordjour and others less well-known in New York’s gallery world (including works by late circus magician Johnny Eck who lived an active life without much of his lower body), the show’s inclusive approach mixes in Mardi Gras and burlesque costumes, boldly designed sideshow posters and even a devotional wax figure of Saint Agnes. Amid abundant oddities, Marnie Weber’s self-portrait as a clown and behind, Karon Davis hugely frowning clown attest to the power of art that like carnival, operates outside social norms. (On view in SoHo through June 28th).
