Lynda Benglis's 'Nœuds et nus' exhibition at Xavier Hufkens explores bodily abstraction
The exhibition 'Nœuds et nus' by Lynda Benglis is currently on display at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels until 16 October. It features her recent sculptures made from paper and chicken wire, crafted since 2013, alongside the 2019 bronze work titled 'Power Tower'. At 80 years old, the American artist skillfully translates abstract concepts into tangible forms, utilizing materials reminiscent of skin and flesh. Among her notable paper works are 'House of Cards' (2016), 'Odalisque' (2016), and 'Queen Bee' (2016). Benglis first drew attention in 1974 with a provocative Artforum advertisement, which sparked criticism from figures like Annette Michelson and Rosalind Krauss. Her artistic journey began in the late 1960s with pigmented latex, creating knotted wall pieces and videos that delve into erotic themes. Weighing over a ton, 'Power Tower' is crafted from polished bronze.
Key facts
- Lynda Benglis's exhibition 'Nœuds et nus' is at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels until 16 October
- The show includes paper-and-chicken-wire sculptures from 2013 onward and the bronze 'Power Tower' from 2019
- Benglis posed naked with a dildo in a 1974 Artforum ad, causing a split in critical opinion
- She began pouring latex in the late 1960s, with works compared to Jackson Pollock's abstract-expressionism
- Benglis created videos like 'Now' (1973) and 'Female Sensibility' (1973) focusing on erotics and control
- Her childhood in New Orleans and Greek heritage influence her use of carnival colors and forms
- Paper sculptures are made by molding wet cotton paper on wire armatures in her Santa Fe studio
- Benglis's work is described as camp for mixing high and low cultural references with sparkles
Entities
Artists
- Lynda Benglis
- Robert Pincus-Witten
- Annie Leibovitz
- Jackson Pollock
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Clement Greenberg
- Richard Serra
- Annette Michelson
- Rosalind Krauss
- Barbara Hepworth
Institutions
- Xavier Hufkens
- Artforum
- Paula Cooper Gallery
- Life magazine
- Courtauld Institute of Art
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- New Mexico
- United States
- New York
- Santa Fe
- New Orleans
- London
- United Kingdom