Tag: body

Peter Harkawik at Derek Eller Gallery

Is digital technology making physical bodies less important? LA artist Peter Harkawik addresses this very contemporary concern with a sculpture that is both a musical instrument and a paean to the human body. Colors on the armature reference brands (like Home Depot orange) while a carefully rendered hand, ear, scrunched bottle and more signal the human touch. (At Derek Eller Gallery through July 10th).

Peter Harkawik, (detail of ) Everything But (Klondike Blue/Pepto Bismol Pink, UPS Brown, Pluot Purple/Home Depot Orange, Risperdal Green/Tiffany Blue, Post-It Note Yellow/Wiffle Ball Yellow, T-Mobile Pink/John Deere Green, Aquafresh Blue, Tiffany Blue), mechanically polished cast stainless steel, electropolished cast stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, 308 stainless steel, carbon steel, Imron fleet paint, SAE F-55 felt, hardware, rubber mallet, 68 x 60 x 16 inches, 2015.

Jonathan Baldock in ‘A Friend is Only a Human Body’ at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

Behind a pleasantly printed pastel sheet strung across one corner of the gallery, a quirky little donut-bodied character by young British artist Jonathan Baldock instructs (according to the title) ‘How to Open Your Third Eye.’ (At Nicelle Beauchene Gallery on the LES through Feb 8th).

Jonathan Baldock, Screen with Peep-holes, muslin, acrylic, thread, 105 ½ x 141 ½ inches, 2014. And Jonathan Baldock, How to Open Your Third Eye, felt, wadding, silk thread, ceramic polymer, 23 ½ x 12 x 6 inches, 2015.

Alina Szapocznikow in ‘The Obscure Object of Desire’ at Luxembourg & Dayan

Late Polish artist Alina Szapocznikow’s cast of her own lips as a lamp act as erotic beacon yet resemble a golf club, suggesting a mix of attraction and violence that makes this piece standout in Luxembourg & Dayan’s excellent group exhibition ‘The Obscure Object of Desire.’ (Through October 4th).

Alina Szapocznikow, Lampe-bouche, colored polyester resin, electrical wiring, and metal, 17 ¾ x 6 x 4 inches, 1966.

Erwin Wurm at Lehmann Maupin Gallery

After visiting a chilling display of human bones at a cloister in Rome, Viennese artist Erwin Wurm adapted his signature ‘One Minute Sculptures’ (for which individuals pose with everyday objects in creative ways) into ‘One Minute Forever’ memento mori with a humorous twist. (At Chelsea’s Lehmann Maupin Gallery through April 19th).

Erwin Wurm, One Minute Forever (Bucket), epoxy resin, polyurethane, wood, metal, buckets, unique, 2013.