Art Basel HK 2023 l White Cube

Sayart.net
Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com

Human-rabbit hybrid featured in HK Basel, by sculptor David Altmejd

Among the various works presented at the White Cube at Art Basel Hong Kong 2023, David Altmejd's work in particular attracted the attention of many visitors.

White Cube Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in London and Hong Kong. It was founded in 1993 by art dealer Jay Jopling and has since become one of the most influential galleries in the art world.  

▲ Vector, year 2022 David Altmade Overall: 397 x 182 x 182 cm | 156 5/16 x 71 5/8 x 71 5/8 inches Picture: 99.1 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm | 39 x 36 x 36 inches Two ears, each: 274.3 x 61 x 20.3 cm | 108 x 24 x 8 inches sculpture Expanded foam, epoxies, acrylic paints, resins, glass eyes, colored pencils, pencils, fiberglass, glass rhinestones and wood artwork size 397.0 x 182.0 x 182.0 (centimeters), Courtesy of White Cube

Sculptor David Altmejd was born in Montreal in 1974 and lives and works in Los Angeles. He studied at the University of Quebec in Montreal and earned his MFA in 2001 from Columbia University in New York. His numerous international exhibitions include Flux, a major investigative exhibition that has traveled from the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris to MUDAM. In Luxembourg and Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal (2014-15). In 2007, he represented Canada at the 52nd Venice Biennale with an installation called The Index, and was included in the 13th Kaunas Biennale, Lithuania (2021).

David Altmejd's work is a unique and provocative blend of science and magic, science fiction and gothic romanticism. He said, "For me, the perfect object is extremely alluring and extremely repulsive at the same time." He explores the composition and deconstruction of the self, expands the range of formative expression, and produces sculptures that evoke an abstract realm beyond the realm of perception. His work concentrates on the human form, as Altmejd's vision includes not only the body but also the mind, imagination, and soul. To this end, each of his pieces is derived from an ongoing intuitive relationship with the various materials that make up the piece, including clay, foam, mirrors, quartz, resin, artificial hair and human hair.

▲ Vector, year 2022 David Altmade Overall: 397 x 182 x 182 cm | 156 5/16 x 71 5/8 x 71 5/8 inches Picture: 99.1 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm | 39 x 36 x 36 inches Two ears, each: 274.3 x 61 x 20.3 cm | 108 x 24 x 8 inches sculpture Expanded foam, epoxies, acrylic paints, resins, glass eyes, colored pencils, pencils, fiberglass, glass rhinestones and wood artwork size 397.0 x 182.0 x 182.0 (centimeters), Photo by Maria Kim

Meanwhile, The White Cube Gallery is known for its sleek, minimalist space, also called the “White Cube,” that provides a blank canvas for exhibiting artwork. The gallery has hosted many high-profile exhibitions over the years, including shows by Yayoi Kusama, Anselm Kiefer and Antony Gormley.

The gallery represents a diverse range of artists, from established personalities such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin to emerging talents such as Eddie Peake and Ibrahim Mahama.

In addition to its exhibition program, White Cube Gallery has a strong online presence, publishing books and catalogs about its artists and featuring virtual exhibitions and other digital content.

▲ Vector, year 2022 David Altmade Overall: 397 x 182 x 182 cm | 156 5/16 x 71 5/8 x 71 5/8 inches Picture: 99.1 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm | 39 x 36 x 36 inches Two ears, each: 274.3 x 61 x 20.3 cm | 108 x 24 x 8 inches sculpture Expanded foam, epoxies, acrylic paints, resins, glass eyes, colored pencils, pencils, fiberglass, glass rhinestones and wood artwork size 397.0 x 182.0 x 182.0 (centimeters), Courtesy of White Cube