As summer travel season rolls around, ‘Shrines to Speed’ at Chelsea’s Leila Heller Gallery acts as something of a cautionary tale. Sylvie Fleury’s smashed and sliced car – covered in nail polish – rests near an ominous pair of van doors by Richard Prince and a crushed Fiat 500 by Ron Arad. All are enticing objects but each undermines the glamor of car culture. (In Chelsea through July 9th).
It’s not an official exhibition, but Paul Kasmin Gallery’s 515 West 27th Street space is currently hosting a selection of artworks including designer Ron Arad’s shimmering chair-like sculpture ‘Thumbprint,’ which seems to shape-shift on the gallery floor.
Referred to as ‘pressed flower’ sculptures, several crushed Fiat 500s are a colorful draw in designer Ron Arad’s first solo show at Paul Kasmin Gallery’s West 27th Street gallery, along with his gridded 3D car in the foreground. Fascinated by flattened objects (he has a collection which includes toys and soda cans), Arad likens the cars to action painting in sculptural form. (Through March 14th).
Ron Arad, installation view of ‘In Reverse’ at Paul Kasmin Gallery, Feb 2015.
