Kensuke Koike in ‘Interventions’ at Yancey Richardson Gallery

A peaceful beach scene turns into a jittery fly-eye view of the seaside at the hand of Japanese artist Kensuke Koike, who alters vintage postcards and photos by slicing and rearranging the images in strips.  (On view in ‘Interventions’ at Yancey Richardson Gallery in Chelsea through Aug 24th).

Kensuke Koike, Big Beach, altered postcards, 8 1/8 x 11 1/8 inches overall, 2016.

Marti Cormand at Josee Bienvenu Gallery

This painting of a sculptural fragment by German modernist artist Emy Roeder, a man puzzling over an abstract sculpture, and a portrait head by German artist Edwin Sharff are all meticulously paintings by Marti Cormand of artworks labeled ‘degenerate’ by the Nazis during WWII. Displaying the images as a series of 5 x 7 inch ‘postcards’ downplays their radicality but emphasizes the fact that their aesthetic has been wholly assimilated into contemporary art. (At Josee Bienvenu Gallery through July 22nd).

Marti Cormand, installation view of ‘Postcards A – Z’ at Josee Bienvenu Gallery, through July 22nd.
Marti Cormand, installation view of ‘Postcards A – Z’ at Josee Bienvenu Gallery, through July 22nd.

Vik Muniz at Sikkema Jenkins & Co

In his latest series ‘Postcards from Nowhere,’ Brazilian artist Vik Muniz magnifies the thrill of getting a postcard (an experience which the Internet age may be consigning to the past) by collaging together postcards blown up to huge scale (seen here in detail). (At Chelsea’s Sikkema Jenkins & Co through May 10th).

Vik Muniz, detail from New York Postcard (Postcards from Nowhere), digital c-print, 71 x 111.5 inches, 2014.

Mathilde Ter Heijne at Jack Hanley Gallery

Photos of anonymous women, taken from the early days of photography to the 1920s, line the walls of Jack Hanley Gallery as part of Dutch artist Mathilde Ter Heijne’s testament to the gradually improving status of women.  On the back of each is a biography of a woman well-known in her time for advancing women’s causes.  Visitors can take one away for inspiration.  (On the Lower East Side through Feb 2nd).  

Mathilde Ter Heijne, installation view of ‘Woman to Go,’ at Jack Hanley Gallery, January 2014.