At the Praxis gallery in New York, Argentine artist Gaspar Libedinsky is presenting Diorama, an exhibition that reconfigures the perception of everyday life through art. The exhibition exhibits three of his most emblematic works, in which common household objects are transformed into sculptural pieces loaded with meaning. Through his interdisciplinary practice, he questions the notions of value, functionality and aesthetics, with a critical but accessible view for the public. The exhibition was inaugurated on January 16 and can be visited until March 29.
Gaspar Libedinsky’s work is governed by a series of principles that he himself calls “force ideas”: the transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary, the conversion of the marginal into an object of desire and the revelation of the potential of materials to achieve a “higher life.” These concepts articulate his artistic exploration and structure Diorama‘s narrative.
As described in the curatorial text of the exhibition, by the architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), Diorama poses a “subtle but scathing critique of modern life.” His work is part of traditions such as Arte Povera, Pop Art and Readymades, by reusing everyday materials to interrogate the cultural and economic hierarchies implicit in objects. “Why is it perverse to see a piece of clothing beautifully made from kitchen rags? Why does it seem grotesque to marvel at the beauty of decontextualized broom bristles?” DS+R asked in their analysis.
