Purple Diary
[May 17 2011]
GILLIAN WEARING at tanya bonakdar gallery, new york
Chelsea’s Tanya Bonakdar Gallery presents
British artist Gillian Wearing’s first New York solo exhibition in over
eight years. Set over two floors, the show presents photographs,
sculpture and two videos by the artist. In a small confessional,
Wearing projects Secrets and Lies. Participants wear flesh colored
rubber mask concealing their identities apart from their eyes. They
were instructed by the artist to confess their darkest secrets on
camera. Among the revelations: a middle aged virgin and a man who wants
to cut off his penis. Alongside this video, Wearing presents a small
group of medium format photographs. Each is a self portrait of the
artist interpreting a major figure from recent art history including
Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe. Gillian Wearing is on view until 24
June at the Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, 521 West 21st Street, New York.
Photo
and text Juliana Balestin
