Purveyors of large-scale installations, Berlin-based art duo, Elmgreen & Dragset have unveiled a new exhibition titled “The Nervous System.” Housed at Pace gallery’s New York flagship, the two have recreated what appears to be a dysfunctional home.
Comprised of 12 artworks, including 10 new sculptures, the show reads like a novel — where the artists provide the images but invite the audience to piece the story together. Examples of this can be seen in The Painter, Fig. 1, where a boy with a paintbrush reflects the idea that artmaking is a constant shuffling between reality and representation.
Characteristic of their practice is the exploration of public spaces, from their social histories to their political and emotional weight. “What’s important is that art can make us less fearful,” Elmgreen said in a 2019 interview. In the past, Elmgreen & Dragset have shown around the world, perhaps most notably at the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009. “The Nervous System” is on view at Pace New York until December 18.
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