Jordan Wolfson's 'Riverboat Song' transforms David Zwirner gallery into a controlled sensory environment.
Between May 2 and June 30, 2018, Jordan Wolfson showcased his video installation 'Riverboat song' (2017-2018) at the David Zwirner gallery located at 533 West 19th Street in New York City. The 8-minute and 24-second video features animated figures, including a boy reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, who was previously seen in Wolfson's 2016 piece 'Colored sculpture.' The gallery space was adorned with lilac carpeting and acoustic panels, presenting the video across sixteen screens arranged in a four-by-four layout. The work contains unsettling imagery and a monologue on emotional manipulation, contrasting a serene setting with disturbing themes, influenced by the Me Too movement, prompting viewers to engage repeatedly despite the discomfort. Wolfson's prior works also delve into themes of emotional instability and control.
Key facts
- Jordan Wolfson's video installation 'Riverboat song' ran from May 2 to June 30, 2018
- The exhibition took place at David Zwirner's 533 West 19th Street gallery in New York City
- The 8'24" video features animated characters including horses, a crocodile, rats, a witch, and a boy
- The boy character previously appeared in Wolfson's 2016 work 'Colored sculpture'
- The gallery was transformed with lilac carpeting and acoustic panels for sound dampening
- Sixteen screens in a four-by-four grid forced visitors against the back wall
- The video includes a monologue about manipulative relationships narrated by Wolfson
- The final clips reference Wolfson's 2017 Whitney Biennial VR piece 'Real violence'
Entities
Artists
- Jordan Wolfson
- Iggy Azalea
- Alfred E. Neuman
- Huckleberry Finn
Institutions
- David Zwirner
- Whitney Biennial
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- New York
- United States
- 533 West 19th Street