Works by British artist Damien Hirst, though often judged as controversial and macabre, serve a crucial function nevertheless. His works challenge the public to explore the questions of “what is death?”, “what is existence?”, “what of the afterlife?” and etc… within ourselves. It is in that continue exploration of those unanswered question that Hirst created his most ambitious works thus far. Titled School: The Archaeology Of Lost Desires, Comprehending Infinity And The Search For Knowledge, the work is currently on display at the lobby of the Lever House, the landmark office tower created by SOM. Commissioned by the building’s owner Aby Rosen, art dealer Alberto Mugrabi, and made possible by Gagosian Gallery, Hirst’s new work took 2 years to create and at a cost of $10 million dollars.
The exhibition dominated the entrance space of Lever House. With some decapitated 29 sheep carcass, 1 shark, two large sides of beef, all bathed in Hirst’s signature medium , formaldehyde. All presented on its own examination table, intravenous pack, and fluorescent light. In addition, the lobby is surrounded by 15 medicine cabinets filled with hundreds if not thousands of empty medication packaging as well as a series of clocks going backward. The layout is quite crucial in this installation. It plays a role in telling the story. The 2 sides of beef, encased in 12-foot galss tank, symbolize the authority figure. While, the 29 sheep and 1 shark (maybe the class clown?), all lined in perfect rows and columns, represent the youngsters in this surreal classroom. Like all other large works by Hirst, the experience is quite indescribable and full of paradox. Lever House’s glass curtain wall, aluminum fixtures, white-washed by fluorescent lighting, create aspace sterile and institution-like. However, the perfectly lined arrangements and soothing sounds made it all oddly familiar. Again, as of any works by Hirst, it pose more questions than answers. The installation will be on display until February 9th, 2008.
Lever House - Lobby Gallery
390 Park Avenue | Map
New York, NY 10022
Event Date: 11.12.2007 ~ 02.09.2008
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