Barbican's 'The Americans. New Art' Showcases Post-9/11 US Talent

The Barbican Gallery in London presented 'The Americans. New Art' from October 25 to December 23, 2001, featuring works by emerging American artists. Curator Mark Sladen's catalogue essay, published after September 11, declared a 'post-ironic' moment, a claim that preempted US cultural commentators. The exhibition included Tony Matelli's 'Lost and Sick: Winter Version' (2000-2001), a life-size polychrome sculpture of three youths vomiting in snow, described in the catalogue as 'a darkly comic vision of cultural entropy.' Jonathan Horowitz's video 'The Soul of Tammi Terrel' (2001) was criticized for its fascination with media culture's dregs. Keith Edmier's 'Beverly Edmier' (1988) depicted the artist's mother dressed as Jackie Kennedy with a transparent womb. Kara Walker presented watercolors and works subverting her signature black silhouette technique, addressing race and gender conflicts central to American identity. Tim Hawkinson (b. 1960), one of the older artists alongside Martin Kersels, created technically adept works meditating on the human body. Other notable artists included Sarah Sze, Evan Holloway, and Ricci Albenda. The review by Barry Schwabsky, translated by Pierre Camus, appeared in artpress in February 2002.