Tag: spiritual

‘Court, Epic, Spirit: Indian Art 15th – 19th Century’ presented by Francesca Galloway at Luhring Augustine Gallery

After a long, action-packed adventure described in the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana, Rama returns home to the kingdom of Ayodhya and is crowned alongside his love, Sita.  Here, in a standout painting from the exhibition ‘Court, Epic, Spirit:  Indian Art 15th – 19th Century’ presented by London dealer Francesca Galloway at Luhring Augustine Gallery, the couple literally glow as they celebrate Rama’s restoration and his triumph over evil.  Populated by dignitaries and ascetics and set among opulent furnishings and fabrics, this relatively small painting overwhelms with its intricate detail.  (On view in Tribeca through March 24th).

The Coronation of Rama based on the description in the Yuddhakanda of the Ramayana, ch 130, Mandi, opaque pigments, painting: 17 ¾ x 14 5/8 inches, c. 1840.

Takashi Murakami at Gagosian Gallery

Hands down, one of the hottest shows of the season in Chelsea is Takashi Murakami’s current solo at Gagosian Gallery, featuring towering demons guarding an ancient Japanese sacred gate crafted by Japanese artisans. After Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Murakami watched the nation turn to things spiritual…with this show, he makes a response by offering up his own quasi-religion. (Through Jan 17th).

Installation view of Takashi Murakami’s ‘In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow,’ Gagosian Gallery, Nov 2014.

Elaine Cameron Weir at Ramiken Crucible

New York artist Elaine Cameron Weir’s latest show ‘Venus Anadyomene’ at the Lower East Side gallery Ramiken Crucible offers an irresistible take on the ancient Greek tale of Venus rising from the sea. Real clamshells with customized neon bring to mind beach-side dive bars while incense rising over a flame adds a spiritual element. (Through April 6th).

Elaine Cameron Weir, installation view of ‘venus anadyomene’ at Ramiken Crucible, March 2014.

Jeff Landman at Tracy Williams, Ltd.

Inspired by early Christian and Mesopotamian building practices that imbued built structures with spiritual meaning, young Brooklyn-based artist Jeff Landman transformed timbers from a Pennsylvania barn into furniture-like platforms for transcendent experience for his first solo show at Tracy Williams, Ltd.  (In Chelsea through Feb 22nd).  

Jeff Landman, installation view of ‘Working on a Building,’ with ‘Bed,’ white oak, linen, 2013 in the foreground.  Tracy Williams, Ltd., Feb 2014.