I chose the following five works because each represented a transformative moment. Whether it is dark, luminous, humorous or formal, each in its imagery depicts a state of change.
In "Klansman (Grand Dragon of the Invisible Empire)", a man becomes a horrifying figure, the mere shape of his hood is terrifying and that is why I have always found this series of images by Andres Serrano intriguing. Its subject is a human but it is also a symbol of a dark and hateful history. By documenting it in such a striking manner, Serrano confronts us with this hate and we must address it.
Nan Goldin's "Apocalyptic Sky over Manhattan, NYC" is foreboding and resonant with the events to occur. It speaks of photography's relationship to time and tragedy and the remarkable ability of the medium to capture a mood. The dusky light that gives the image its violent pink glow is from that cinematic magic hour when the moment is neither day nor night.
I have always enjoyed Lucas Samaras' Polaroid works and this is a particularly beautiful piece. The figure gives way to an abstract form that is an almost spirit like glow hovering above him. Yet, it is apparent that this shape shifting is occurring in the artist's cramped New York kitchen. It is ethereal and concrete at the same time.
Dorothea Tanning's "Message 7" is the most fun of all the transformations; a monkey head appears to be growing out from beneath the seat on a bicycle frame. I smiled at the determined look on the monkey's face and thought about the creation of this work and its evolution. The title made me wonder if the monkey is the bearer of the message or like in a dream, the bicycle, its fat tire and the monkey are a series of strange symbols that in your dream state make sense, but upon waking the message is completely indecipherable yet somehow influential to your consciousness.
In Bruce High Quality Foundation's "Phallus", the tongue in cheek title gives away what transformation is occurring. Going beyond that, this works illustrates the group's adept hand at combining things that are easily recognizable as far as function and meaning go, and completely turning them on their head. I saw a piece of theirs recently at P.S.1 in which an industrial vacuum cleaner had a small video screen embedded in the opening where the hose would connect. Looking into the hole an animated vortex of flames and money swirled around to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire". As an art object, it was a pretty great rendering of America at this moment in time.
Sara VanDerBeek was born in 1976 in Baltimore, MD. She received her BFA from The Cooper Union in 1998. She lives and works in New York City. Her work is currently included in New Photography 2009 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York and Amazement Park at the Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs, New York. Upcoming exhibitions include The Reach of Realism at MoCa North Miami, and a solo exhibition at D'Amelio Terras, New York in May 2010.
All works are for sale and benefit the Foundation's programs of grants to artists. Click thumbnails for a larger image. To purchase a work, or for more information, please email info@contemporary-arts.org.
Bruce High Quality Foundation Andres Serrano, Klansman (Grand Dragon Phallus of the Invisible Empire)
$2,500 $8,000
Nan Goldin Dorothea Tanning
Apocalyptic Sky over Manhattan, NYC Message 7
$12,000 $20,000
Lucas Samaras, Photo-transformation 1974
$10,000
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