Strange Bodies: Figurative works from the Hirshorn collection

Strange Bodies: Figurative works from the Hirshorn collection

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

7^th Street SW at Independence Ave

Strange Bodies seems a perfect name for the exhibition of figurative contemporary works located in the lower level of the Hirshhorn Museum. The drawings, paintings, sculptures and film challenge the viewer’s perception of the human body. For example, Robert Gober's Untitled, 1990, is just a leg appearing to grow out of the gallery wall complete with pant, sock and shoe.

Walking to the back of the gallery one cannot help but notice Ron Mueck’s Untitled (Big Man), 2000. This oversize body sits dauntingly realistic alone in a corner with eyes that seem to follow you around the room as if at any moment he may come to life to attack. His figures are so human-like with fleshy skin and toenails it feels as though there is a hairless ogre in your presence.

Unlike Meuck’s overly realistic piece, Thomas Schütte created distorted views of anatomy in sculpture and photographic reproductions in the work United Enemies, A Play in 10 Scenes, 1994. The miniature figures tied to one another stand in glass cases on pedestals with spiteful looking faces. Behind the cases the wall of photographs close ups of the figures expressions.

Another artistic distortion of the figure is captured in Yinka Shonibare’s The Age of Enlightenment—Antoine Lavoisier, 2008 is an example of some of his less provocative work. His installations often contain headless mannequins wearing detailed textures imported from Africa. Although the installation is slightly less provocative, the piece contains quite a bit of irony. Antoine Lavoisier, a French aristocrat was in fact beheaded. The headless mannequin sits in a wheelchair representing Shonibare’s physical disabilities that have left him in partial paralysis. The Age of Enlightenment—Antoine Lavoisier is one of the museums more recent purchases this spring.

The exhibition continues until November 8, 2009 with some of the works staying as part of the permanent collection. Hours to the museum are 10am to 5:30pm daily. Please also check out the Hirshhorn’s podcast about Strange Bodies is an informative short on the curator’s choices.

-Sarah Allison