What is New York artist Jordan Wolfson saying with his violently brilliant new work, Colored Sculpture? The single, and singular, sculptural work is the sole ingredient of a current show at New York’s David Zwirner gallery; and is an eerie assemblage of pop culture reference points.
The work centres around the freak sibling of American icons Howdy Doody; Mad magazine cover boy, Alfred E. Neuman; and Child’s Play‘s Chucky; and sees their creepy cuteness ramped up to bizarre new levels — the life-sized oddity thrashing around on chains suspended by a mechanised gantry, in a crucifixion-inflected ceremony.
Most disconcerting is the facial recognition tech, which sees visitors tracked and spooked as the disjointed choreography plays out; its eyes, too, engaging technology by using fibre-optics to display imagery and video footage … dark overtones of consumerism adding to an already troubling affair. Iconography; advertising; the internet; and tech trends, Wolfson’s dark dancing puppet show is a work of depth and drama. What is New York artist Jordan Wolfson saying with his violently brilliant new work, Colored Sculpture? Who knows — but it is visceral, and arresting, and frenzied, and brilliant.
Jordan Wolfson, Colored Sculpture, continues at David Zwirner, New York, until 25 June.
Photo, Josh White
Jordan Wolfson
Colored sculpture, 2016
Mixed media
Overall dimensions vary with each installation
Courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London and David Zwirner, New York
