Chosen with little effort or a lot, our clothing gives an impression of who we are or at least how we see ourselves. But what would happen if could just send our clothes out into the public realm without us? Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm’s ‘Substitutes’ series puts this idea to the test with painted aluminum garments that stand or float in Lehman Maupin Gallery as if inhabited by a living force. The potential eeriness of the sculptures is offset by their cheerful tones – a hot pink suit, an electric yellow hoody and pants and a towering powder blue dress with tights are more fun than creepy and geared to entertain. (On view in Chelsea through June 6th).
