Written by Nina Azzarello /
From now through june 23, 2018, new york’s galerie lelong & co. presents new and recent work by artist ursula von rydingsvard. ‘torn’ is a solo exhibition comprising large-scale sculptures and installations that continue her ongoing experimentation of, and interest in, mediums such as cedar, paper, bronze, and resin. the pieces on view are thematically unified by a tangible sense of movement, intensity, and force. ‘the work is becoming more vulnerable: it’s not as anchored,’ von rydingsvard remarks. ‘I want to be able to take greater risks from my own psychological arena.’
at galerie lelong, large-scale wall works evoke a palpable sense of dynamism, like a visceral bodily or animal form. a piece titled ‘nester’ seemingly scales the gallery wall, dramatically shifting away and returning in one sinuous swoop. ‘DWA’ comprises two asymmetrical halves, and both leeches to and repulses from the wall. the third monumental relief sculpture is ‘oziksien’, with cavities that span from humble burrows to ferocious chambers as it nears the floor.
DWA, 2017 | cedar | 104 x 70 x 51 inches (264.2 x 177.8 x 129.5 cm) | photo by etienne frossard
an expansive 10-foot-tall sculpture titled ‘Z BOKU’ is cast in bronze, yet still exhibits an organic quality with its undulating curves that to stretch toward the sky. crowned with delicate and gaping lace-like perforations, the installation marks one of von rydingsvard’s most difficult technical feats to date. in the gallery’s smaller room stands ‘elegantka II’. the cast resin sculpture bears a gray-blue color that changes according to the light conditions, glowing ominously with interior lights. its alluring magnetism draws viewers closer to discover its mysterious material. also on view is von rydingsvard’s unique exploration of bookbinding as sculpture, which comprises stressed linen pages lined with thin slices of cedar wood.
nester, 2016 | cedar | 131 x 55 x 54 inches (332.7 x 139.7 x 137.2 cm)
nester, 2016 | cedar | 131 x 55 x 54 inches (332.7 x 139.7 x 137.2 cm) | photo by michael bodycomb
oziksien, 2016 | cedar | 145 x 123 x 30 inches (368.3 x 312.4 x 76.2 cm) | photo by michael bodycomb
installation view of ‘torn’ at galerie lelong & co.
roaming rudia, 2017 | cedar | 73 x 55 x 46 inches (185.4 x 139.7 x 116.8 cm)
Z BOKU, 2017 | bronze | 125.75 x 82 x 59.5 inches (319.4 x 208.3 x 151.1 cm) | photo by michael bodycomb
installation view of ‘torn’ at galerie lelong & co.