Charles Ray's First German Museum Show Opens at Fridericianum Kassel
At 73, Los Angeles-based sculptor Charles Ray is showcasing his first exhibition in a German museum at Kassel's Fridericianum. His sculpture 'Oh! Charley, Charley, Charley …' sparked controversy during Documenta IX in 1992. The exhibition, curated by Moritz Wesseler, features works such as 'Family Romance' (1993), 'Aluminum Girl' (2003), 'School Play' (2014), and a Madonna crafted from carbon fiber bearing the likeness of Virginia Woolf. Ray's creations delve into the interplay between the conceptual and the pornographic, drawing inspiration from artists like Anthony Caro and David Smith. His studio in Santa Monica resembles a Renaissance workshop. The exhibition will continue until [date not specified], with Ray anticipated to take part in the upcoming Documenta.
Key facts
- Charles Ray's first German museum exhibition is at Fridericianum in Kassel.
- The show includes his 1992 Documenta IX piece 'Oh! Charley, Charley, Charley …'.
- The sculpture depicts eight identical young men in a semi-erect state, often described as an orgy.
- Ray's 'Family Romance' (1993) is a life-size nude family holding hands, all same height.
- The exhibition features 'Aluminum Girl' (2003), 1.58 meters tall, and 'School Play' (2014), 1.94 meters.
- A Madonna in carbon fiber, 3.06 meters, with the face of Virginia Woolf, is included.
- Ray was born in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles to teach sculpture.
- His studio in Santa Monica operates like a Renaissance workshop.
- Ray's work was shown at Centre Pompidou and Bourse de Commerce in Paris in 2022.
- The exhibition is curated by Fridericianum director Moritz Wesseler.
Entities
Artists
- Charles Ray
- Anthony Caro
- David Smith
- Roland Brener
- John McCracken
- Duane Hanson
- George Segal
- John De Andrea
- Louise Nevelson
- Bruce Nauman
- Hanne Darboven
- Robert Gober
- Chuck Close
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Mike Kelley
- Constantin Brâncuși
- Jeff Koons
- Virginia Woolf
Institutions
- Fridericianum
- Documenta IX
- Centre Pompidou
- Bourse de Commerce
- MOCA Los Angeles
- Museum Ludwig
- Punta della Dogana
- documenta
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Paris
- France
- London
- United Kingdom
- Iowa
- Chicago
- Santa Monica
- Venice
- Italy
- Cologne