~RUDOLF STINGEL/VENICE/PAULA COOPER/MARY BOONE
RUDOLF STINGEL is in the news regarding his participation in ‘SEQUENCE 1’ – a FRANCOIS PINAULT presentation of contemporary art (from his personal collection) that just opened, in his PALAZZO GRASSI exhibition hall in Venice. The exhibit was curated by ALISON M. GINGERAS, and focuses on 16 artists, Mr. Stingel being one of them. Some of the works were reportedly commissioned just for the show, including a pavilion-like structure within which one can find a silver-paneled room and chandelier installation by Mr. Stingel. Besides being an avid art collector and exhibitor on a grand museum quality scale, Francois Pinault owns CHRISTIE’S AUCTION HOUSE.
RUDOLF STINGEL has recently presented 2 installations in New York City that really caught our imaginations. The first was a very striking installation of one large single painting – a portrait of his NYC dealer, PAULA COOPER, in the large and beautifully designed gallery space in Chelsea that bears her name. The exhibit opened on Feb 12, 2005, PAULA COOPER GALLERY, (Chelsea), NYC.
RUDOLF STINGEL at the opening of his installation,
PAULA COOPER GALLERY, NYC
FEB 12, 2005
RUDOLF STINGEL, large painting, PORTRAIT Of PAULA COOPER,
PAULA COOPER GALLERY, FEB 12, 2005
PAULA COOPER, photographed at the opening,
RUDOLF STINGEL installation, PAULA COOPER GALLERY,
FEB 12, 2005
ABOVE PHOTOS: Nancy Smith
A VIEW OF THE RUDOLF STINGEL INSTALLATION,
PAULA COOPER GALLERY, FEB 2005
PHOTO: COURTESY PAULA COOPER GALLERY
The second installation, presented a year later, was even more intriguing, and very different.
Mr. STINGEL installed a complete gallery floor of ‘mirror-polished aluminum’, in
the aptly and poetically, wonderfully named, ‘Hiding in the Light’, a small group exhibit, curated by NEVILLE WAKEFIELD, at MARY BOONE GALLERY (CHELSEA), that ran from Jan 12 – Feb 25, 2006.
Looking back at the photos, it still resonates as one of the most beautiful and critically awesome exhibits, ever. Resonates is the perfect word, for this exhibit, in more ways than one, and the RUDOLF STINGEL floor certainly contributed greatly. Sublimely invisible and reflectively dynamic all at once, it was installed in a seemingly seamless effort, from wall to wall, creating a 4th dimension that could be there, or not. You felt something magical happening the minute you walked in, but the effect was so sublime, you didn’t always realize you were actually walking on a perfectly reflective surface. It was curious, beautiful.
in the foreground, CAROL BOVE, ‘YSL’ (hanging lines of crystal-like beads)
reflected in the RUDOLF STINGEL mirrored floor, note the gallery-goers,
considering the ‘properties’ of the floor underfoot . .
a bronze, life-size, ‘Lifeboat’ by JEFF KOONS, adrift on the RUDOLF STINGEL
mirror-polished aluminum floor,
with a reflection of ALEKSANDRA MIR’S ‘Beauty Free’ canvas.
‘Hiding in the Light’, curated by NEVILLE WAKEFIELD,
MARY BOONE GALLERY (Chelsea), Jan 28, 2007
PHOTOS: Nancy Smith
see: more photos of this exhibit: posted 2006-05-12
RUDOLF STINGEL, ‘Untitled’, dimensions variable,
mirror-polished aluminum, 2004
PHOTO: COURTESY MARY BOONE GALLERY
There are no images of the present RUDOLF STINGEL installation at
PALAZZO GRASSI posted on their website.
IT’S got a lot of not very impressive web glitz & flash – BUT its not very generous with the images. not very functional at all. after all, M. Pinault, we can’t all get to Venice, it would sink. is your exhibit archival in spirit, or just another artworld touristas destination ?
. . but anyways, with the words..”silver paneled room and a chandelier” one might imagine it to be reflective and sublimely magical, if it is at all, even remotely, a close cousin to these 2 pieces/installations, above..