Exhibition: Juan Muñoz
Yesterday I went around to London to see an exhibition at Tate Modern.
A short brief from Tate Modern site about the author: Spanish artist Juan Muñoz (1953-2001) came to international prominence in the mid 1980s with dramatic sculptural installations that placed the human figure in specific architectural environments. His reputation was built on his power to create an intriguing tension between the illusory and the real, the contrasting acts of looking and receiving, and the poignant isolation of the individual amongst a crowd.
I loved the sculptures that the author made and how he tried to think about the observer and what he sees. He is constantly trying to get us too imagine looking from a balcony, thinking what are the sculptures thinking and the mood and atmosphere that the whole pieces are making.
Juan Muñoz: Many Times, 1999, Private collection
© The estate of Juan Muñoz
The Many Times piece really got me going and thinking. Juan made 100 figures, with asian features and all identically dressed. They are formed into crowds around the space, chatting, shaking hands, talking. You as an observer get lost in the crowd, get a feeling that you do not belong there. You start imagining what they are talking about and how he managed to make so many with such a good purpose. Its just an astonishing piece.
Juan Muñoz: Towards the Shadow (as installed at Site Santa Fe), 1998, Private collection
© The estate of Juan Muñoz
Photo: courtesy Marion Goodman Gallery
Another one of the pieces that I just stood in front of and looked at it. Such a simple thing, but has such a powerful meaning. The reflector behind a figure which is screaming is making a huge dark shadow on the wall. The whole room is dark so you are trapped in the darkness with the looming shadow over you, it manages to convey feelings of despair as you are standing and looking at the thing.
There are many more works exhibited, most of them are really worth seeing and it will really get you thinking and ideas popping in your head.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
