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[20240508]
A QUESTION IS ALSO A FORM OF SCULPTURE by NABUQI at M WOODS 798 curated by VICTOR WANG [from 20240322 to 20240630]
[Photos: M WOODS]
Can an exhibition also be a form of sculpture, or, perhaps, can a question?
Take a step back with M WOODS as we circle around the exhibition that when seen from one angle functions as sculpture, however, when viewed from another a ‘sculptural study’ appears with the shift of gaze, one that explores a decade of her artistic inquiry into sculpture and its transformation amidst the rise of manufactured and mass-produced goods.
Curated by Victor Wang, M WOODS’ Artistic & Executive Director, and developed closely with the artist over the past year, this experimental mid-career survey unfolds as a multi-sided object. Further, on each surface of this object, a series of ‘sculptural zones’ materialize, developing the ideas and questions Nabuqi has explored through her art. In total, the curator and artist have selected over 40 pivotal works by Nabuqi, that come together to create this unique physical experience.
The exhibition is constructed into two central thematic sections. The first floor of the museum is defined by a new large-scale Central Hall sculpture commission, a microcosm of a larger system that adopts a green screen-like outdoor environment, effectively turning the main gallery into an interactive public space. Here, audiences venture both inside and outside simultaneously, challenging the conventional separation of urban and rural areas. The Central Hall becomes both an interior world unto itself and a manufactured outside world, filtered through a monument that emphasizes the interconnections between public space and sculpture.
The second floor offers an overview of the last decade of Nabuqi’s work. It foregrounds key questions in Nabuqi’s art, such as the ability of sculpture to maintain its unique artistic identity in an era dominated by manufactured and mass-produced goods. Additionally, it provides insights into the artist’s continuous exploration of landscapes and nature as sculptural entities, showcased through a diverse presentation of Nabuqi’s works. This curated look into the past features a selection of important works from 2014-2024, such as the A View Beyond Space series (NO.1, NO.4, NO.5, and NO.7-12). Featured pieces like A View Beyond Space No.4 and No.8 (Swiss Cheese Plant in a Plate) underscore Nabuqi’s investigation into sculpture as a medium for interpreting the complex layers of urbanized nature. A View Beyond Space No.4, a meticulously constructed stainless steel landscape, reminiscent of a city skyline, immediately conjures thoughts of urban environments, representing the continual encroachment of urban structures into natural landscapes. In contrast, the 2022 bronze sculpture No.8 (Swiss Cheese Plant in a Plate) presents a fragmented tropical flowering plant. Its bronze sheen highlights the transformation of the Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) into an aesthetic object, bridging the stark, manufactured world of contemporary sculpture with the domestication and rapid cultivation of this popular indoor house plant. Additionally, the East Gallery on the second floor will showcase the interactive, large-scale work Board Game: Accidental Cases from 2022. This piece emphasizes play and participation, offering a unique, hands-on experience with the artwork.
[Text: M WOODS]
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