Nari Ward's "Until That Day" Transforms Hydra's Former Slaughterhouse
Nari Ward's solo show, Until That Day, is currently on display at the Deste Slaughterhouse Project in Hydra, Greece, until September 30, 2026. This exhibition showcases red fire hoses sourced from the local fire station, which stand in stark contrast to the grey hoses of New York. Ward gained insights into the local firefighting practices, including their round-the-clock responsibilities and challenges with water supply. The hoses serve as symbols of fire, water, and the Civil Rights Movement, alluding to Haile Selassie's address at the UN on October 4, 1963, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech from August 28, 1963. Featured works include Distant Sound, a telephone booth containing papers from Ward's autistic aunt, and a central figure resembling a snowman crafted from fire hoses. Additional components consist of charred domino tables, a soundtrack composed by Aggelos Aggelou, and an anchor fountain honoring Jack Whitten. Giorgos Sfakianakis documents the exhibition.
Key facts
- Nari Ward's exhibition Until That Day is on view at the Deste Slaughterhouse Project on Hydra, Greece, until September 30, 2026.
- Ward was inspired by the bright red fire hoses at Hydra's fire station, which contrast with the grey hoses typical in New York.
- The fire hose material evokes both fire and water, rescue and salvation, and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, where hoses were used against demonstrators in Birmingham in May 1963.
- The exhibition includes a telephone booth titled Distant Sound, containing handwritten papers by Ward's autistic aunt, held in bottles by old bed springs.
- A plastic curtain recycled from a Deste project and previously used at HangarBicocca in Milan creates a threshold in the space.
- Domino tables charred using the Japanese yakisugi technique reference Jamaica's domino culture and invite visitors to spend time.
- Aggelos Aggelou composed Fleeting Illusion, a musical work incorporating Haile Selassie's 1963 UN speech, rebetiko, and Ward's voice.
- An anchor fountain titled Power Anchor, dedicated to Jack Whitten, brings seawater into the installation and dialogues with the Historical Archives Museum of Hydra's anchor.
Entities
Artists
- Nari Ward
- Joseph Beuys
- Felix Gonzalez-Torres
- Jack Whitten
- Aggelos Aggelou
- Haile Selassie
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Bob Marley
- Jeffrey Deitch
- Giorgos Sfakianakis
Institutions
- Deste Slaughterhouse Project
- HangarBicocca
- Deitch Projects
- Historical Archives Museum of Hydra
- United Nations
- People's National Party
- Jamaica Labour Party
- Inferno Magazine
Locations
- Hydra
- Greece
- Athens
- New York
- United States
- Milan
- Italy
- Kingston
- Jamaica
- Birmingham
- Washington
- Crete
- Mandraki Beach