 |
Email PageThe Empire at War
November 2, 2006- December 23, 2006
Reception: November 2, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Andrei Molodkin
Daneyal Mahmood Gallery
511 W 25th St Andrei Molodkin Empire At War (2006) |  Andrei Molodkin Embrace (2006) |
Daneyal Mahmood Gallery presents Empire At War; large scale ballpoint pen drawings by Andrei Molodkin. The central piece, George Bush reading from the bible in front of a crucifix (118x157") is drawn from 2,764 ballpoint pens. The number of pens used represents the total number of soldiers killed in Iraq by September 21st, 2006. The project serves as an allegory for death by process - as each pen is used until spent and then replaced with another until the project is completed. Ultimately, Empire at War also draws attention to the cultural confluence of war, politics and religion.
"The hypocrisy of the slogan 'Support our troops' yields a comparison with ballpoint pens 'issued' to a former soldier Andrei Molodkin to produce his drawings and paintings. On the one hand, the repeatedly renewed process of using these dispensable tools is linked to the iconography of death. The other idea is about the continuation of the line of ballpoint pens, in the sense that the used-up set (the dead) is immediately replaced with a new generation. Each of them is destined to fight and work obsessively at any price, until the last drop of ink-blood. The end of this process is 'the end of civilization,' or (as they say nowadays) 'the end of history.' Therefore, the images of 'sweet crude leaders' (sweet crude commander-in-chief, etc.), responsible for turning ballpoint pens allegory into reality, serve as a symbol of that finale." Victor Tupitsyn
Andrei Molodkin lives and works between France and Russia. He first received international recognition in 2002 for Love Copyright. His most recent projects have included a series of “liquid” sculptures created by Iraqi crude oil and acrylic. The international press has recognized Mr. Molodkin’s work with numerous articles written in prominent publications such as Art Forum, NY Times, BBC News and Guardian Unlimited. Molodkin’s artwork is held in prestigious private and public collections including The State Russian Museum. In December of 2006 he is being presented by the Guggenheim Museum as one of five prominent emerging Russian artists.
Books and DVDs related to artists in this show
|
 | |||||||||||||||
|
© 2005-2008 chelseaartgalleries.com | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
| Site Map |
