NYAB Event - Magdalena Abakanowicz “Unrepeatability: Abakan to Crowd”

Magdalena Abakanowicz “Unrepeatability: Abakan to Crowd”

Marlborough (Midtown)

This event has ended.

The Directors of Marlborough Gallery announces Unrepeatability: Abakan to Crowd, an exhibition in celebration of the 85th birthday of the Polish-born sculptor, Magdalena Abakanowicz, curated by Mary Jane Jacob. The exhibition is a survey of works created from 1973 to 2006 that opens on September 16th and will remain on view through October 17th. Marlborough Chelsea will present a concurrent group exhibition entitled War Games featuring the work of eight artists from subsequent generations whose work has been influenced by Abakanowicz’s groundbreaking practice. Central to this group exhibition will be her monumental wood and iron work entitled Zyk (1989) from the artist’s War Games series. The exhibition will be also be accompanied by a solo presentation of Abakanowicz sculptures at the gallery’s Broome Street location.

In the mid-1960s, when fiber-based objects were considered “craft” and therefore suitable for export from her native Poland, Abakanowicz began to utilize burlap and woven fabrics to create her sculptures, which allowed for the works to be exhibited in the West. Unrepeatability: Abakan to Crowd features the seminal work entitled Abakan Last (1978), a large hanging sculpture woven from sisal thread. The exhibition will also include works composed of burlap, such as the artist’s group of 14 Heads (1973-1975) and the 50 life-sized figures from the artist’s Crowds III (1989). Having experimented with fibers, stone, marble and aluminum, in 1985 Abakanowicz turned to bronze for the first time. Though initially the shift was a means to facilitate outdoor installation, bronze soon became a favored medium that allowed the artist to create monumental and imposing crowds. A selection of bronze crowds—40 Bambini (1998-99), 10 Standing Figures (2000) and 10 Walking Figures (2000)—will be displayed on the gallery’s terrace.