Curated by Pierre-Yves Desaive
Harry Benson / Roe Ethridge / John Giorno / Andy Hope 1930 / Jonathan Horowitz / Nathan Hylden / Hervé Ic / Mike Kelley / Sherrie Levine / John Miller / Jonathan Meese / Paul McCarthys / David Ostrowski / Richard Prince / Josh Smith / Reena Spaulings
On the eve of the US elections, “The Power and The Glory” metaphorically examines the tension that exists between an artist’s desire to shine and his or her desire to exist, like in the world of politics. Pierre Yves Desaive, art historian and curator is collaborating with the collection for this exhibition.
The sparse and frugal use of colour precludes extravagance in some of the works, reflecting a kind of duality between vanity and excess as well as restraint and quintessence.
The works of John Miller, Paul McCarthy or Sherrie Levine resonate with the paintings of Josh Smith and David Ostrowski or the photographs of Roe Ethridge and Nathan Hylden, which, while prompting a reflection on vanity, feature a plasticity indicative of this ambivalence between the will to exist, the desire to please and a necessary derision of the fleeting nature of success and human existence.
“The Power and The Glory” is a means of commenting on the search for fame, which gives power and calls for some thought on vanity, which establishes the terms of our human condition.
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Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
- William Shakespeare, Macbeth