Hauser & Wirth’s inaugural participation at miart, Milan, is a solo presentation focused on Paul McCarthy’s PROPO series of photographic works from the 1990s, alongside recent sculptures and drawings. The presentation charts the evolution of the appearance of the prosthetic body in McCarthy’s practice, from the PROPO series made in the 1990s, to the artist’s digital manipulation of the body which features in recent sculptures and drawings from the last few years.
Paul McCarthy is widely considered to be one of the most influential and groundbreaking contemporary American artists of our time. Born in 1945, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, he first established a multi-faceted artistic practice, which sought to break the limitations of painting by using unorthodox materials such as bodily fluids and food. McCarthy has since become known for visceral, often hauntingly humorous work in a variety of mediums–from performance, photography, film and video, to sculpture, drawing and painting.
Paul McCarthy on PROPO: ‘Between 1972–1983, I did a series of performances which involved masks, bottles, pans, uniforms, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. After the performances these objects were either left behind or they were collected and stored in suitcases and trunks to be used in future performances. In 1983, the closed suitcases and trunks containing these performance objects were stacked on a table and exhibited as sculpture. In 1991, I opened the suitcases and trunks photographing each item. The group of photographs in their entirety was titled PROPO’.
Hauser & Wirth is also pleased to share the following museum projects for its artists coinciding with the fair:
Hans Josephsohn at the ICA Milano, Milan, curated by Alberto Salvadori, 24 March–2 June 2019
Lygia Pape at the Fondazione Carriero, Milan, curated by Francesco Stocchi, 28 March–21 July 2019
Anj Smith at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan, 3 April–12 May 2019
Anna Maria Maiolino at Padiglione D’Arte Contemporanea, Milan, 6 April–9 June 2019
Allan Kaprow Words at Converso, Milan, a non for profit exhibition space, 6 April–25 May 2019
In addition to Paul McCarthy’s solo presentation at miart 2019, Matthew Day Jackson’s new line of furniture will debut at Salone del Mobile in Milan from 9–14 April 2019.