HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARMORY SHOW NEW YORK 2023

The Armory Show, New York made its ground-breaking debut in 1913, introducing America to avant-garde European art movements like Cubism and Fauvism. A century later, it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of artistic exploration and innovation. It retains its legacy as a pivotal nucleus for cultural dialogue, an arena where the global art community congregates to explore, ponder, and celebrate the ceaseless evolution of contemporary artistic expression.

With over 225 galleries as well as different sections such as Solo, Focus, Presents and Platform, The Armory Show seeks to engage and bring together established and nascent artists, curators and various other players of the art world.

LEHMANN MAUPIN

The exhibition’s main work is Teresita Fernández’s ‘Island Universe 2,’ a huge charcoal wall installation that unites the Earth’s landmasses into a uniform, borderless landscape. In Fernández’s work (produced especially for this exhibition) continents and archipelagos are combined to form a single landmass that resembles the extinct supercontinent Pangaea, disrupting conventional mapping.

By tearing down physical and political barriers, she challenges viewers to rethink their preconceptions and beliefs about a specific location, highlighting how maps are infused with social, political, and cultural views. These numerous layers that are exposed, emphasize on the idea that any space or geographical location cannot be clearly defined on a map.

NATURE MORTE

Nature Morte, one of India’s leading contemporary art galleries presents seven artists at The Armory Show this year, namely Kamrooz Aram, Sagarika Sundaram, artist duo Thukral and Tagra, Martand Khosla, Manisha Parekh, Parul Gupta and Jitish Kallat.

During the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, Kallat started this project with a hand-drawn journal that documented little changes in his studio; such as the appearance of fractures in the walls. Although it appears as though created out of chance, the composition is very deliberate. The juxtaposition of different historical and cultural elements provokes the contemplation of the interconnectedness of human history and the repetition of certain themes and narratives.

Also presenting at Booth 218 is Sagarika Sundaram’s Iris. Sundaram’s artistic practice lies in creating textile-based installations and sculptures. Her work at The Armory Show is a piece that continues the artist’s research into the potential of hand-dyed raw natural fiber. The wools and dyes from as far away as the Himalayas and as close as the Hudson Valley, serve as the raw ingredients for the traditional felt-making processes that Sundaram uses to construct her intricate wall reliefs.

The convergence of different realms—bridging the local and global, the ancient and contemporary, and the human and natural—reflects Sagarika Sundaram’s personal background, shaped by her upbringing in both India and Dubai. It also embodies the seamless union of craftsmanship, materials, and artistic expression, echoing the rich textile traditions that have flourished for millennia.

MOSKOWITZ BAYSE

Alexa Guariglia is represented by Moskowitz Bayse at The Armory Show, 2023. The artwork seamlessly merges the realms of memory and pattern, resulting in visually captivating paintings that portray stylized environments. In her work, she skillfully constructs self-contained worlds that serve as a focal point for her subjects.

Guariglia draws her creative inspiration from a diverse range of sources, including femininity, motherhood, leisure, craftsmanship, and the enchanting realm of magic. She also finds influence in the performative aspects inherent to the act of painting itself. Her paintings can be described as enigmatic and allegorical, residing in a space that blurs the boundaries between self-portraiture and the art of creating art.

JAMES COHAN

Xu Zhen’s Eternity sculptures intricately blend replicas of Hellenistic and Buddhist statues, forming captivating three-dimensional amalgamations that bridge the gaps in transcontinental histories. One of these remarkable works, titled “Eternity – Standing Bodhisattva, Statue of Nike of Paionios,” merges two iconic sculptures: the renowned Greek goddess of victory, Nike of Paionios (created around 425-420 BC), and a standing bodhisattva, a spiritual being dedicated to guiding others on their path to salvation by delaying their own journey to nirvana.

This art piece masterfully combines these distinct elements, resulting in a thought-provoking composition. It carries the weight of archaeological significance, serving as a testament to history’s enduring influence. Yet, beneath its surface, “Eternity…” also offers a subtle commentary on the commonalities and disparities that exist in our global culture. It provides a unique space where the sacred and the worldly coexist, inviting viewers to contemplate the connections between the two: ‘seemingly-disparate’ worlds.

THIS IS NO FANTASY

At Australia’s THIS IS NO FANTASY gallery-booth this year, Yhonnie Scarce presents striking, large-scale screen prints of churches situated on reservations where indigenous communities were forcibly relocated. These prints are rendered in a deep-red, symbolizing dried blood; serving as a powerful symbol of the complicity of religion in historical atrocities. Accompanying the prints are boxes filled with ice-like glass pieces that represent the lost food that sustained aboriginal communities before the local flora was irreversibly transformed due to nuclear testing in the area.