Tag: guardian

XU ZHEN at James Cohan Gallery

Ancient and 20th century, Chinese and European cultural heritage come into direct contact in XU ZHEN’s sculpture of a Tang Dynasty warrior holding Brancusi’s ‘Sleeping Muse.’  Currently part of an exhibition at James Cohan Gallery that has transformed the exhibition space into a garden with walking paths that replicate protest marches, the piece aims to provoke conversation on many levels.  (On view on the Lower East Side through April 22nd).

XU ZHEN, Eternity-Painted Terracotta Statue of Heavenly Guardian, Sleeping Muse, bronze, mineral composites, mineral pigments, steel, 79 1/8 x 33 5/8 x 17 5/8, 2016.

Tom Friedman at Luhring Augustine Gallery

No other gallery security staff are as subtle as Tom Friedman’s ‘Guardian,’ a light projection above Luhring Augustine’s exit. Friedman’s entire show does away with his usual labor-intensive sculpture techniques, substituting instead alluring objects and figures that might disappear at the press of a power button. (On view in Chelsea through Oct 28th).

Tom Friedman, Guardian, video projection, dimensions variable, 2017.