Tag: kafka

Jorge Mendez Blake in ‘Borders’ at James Cohan Gallery

Borders are front and center in U.S. politics and at James Cohan Gallery where Jorge Mendez Blake’s ‘Amerika’ bisects the main exhibition space, arresting both visitors’ thoughts and physical progress through the show.  Mid-way along the base of the wall, Mendez Blake has placed a copy of Kafka’s ‘Amerika,’ the troubled tale of a European immigrant to New York, intimating that migration is a fraught undertaking from start to finish.  (On view at James Cohan Gallery’s Chelsea and Lower East Side spaces through Feb 23rd).

Jorge Mendez Blake, Amerika, bricks, edition of ’Amerika’ by Franz Kafka, 72 7/8 x 11 7/8 x 400 inches, 2019.

Adam McEwan at Petzel Gallery

With oppressive systems as his theme, British artist Adam McEwan presents sculptures of supercomputers that move data, a rendition of airport security trays and this walk-in sculpture of the letter ‘K.’ The letter stands in for Kafka and a character in ‘The Trial’ as well as a hieroglyph for an open hand. The most convincing way to understand the mood of the piece, however, is to climb the terrifyingly steep stairs. (At Petzel Gallery through April 30th).

Adam McEwan, Staircase, wood, steel, 18’ – 10” x 12’ – 11 5/8” x 3’ – 10 1/4,” 2016.
Adam McEwan, Staircase, wood, steel, 18’ – 10” x 12’ – 11 5/8” x 3’ – 10 1/4,” 2016.