Magali Reus at Ibid Projects: Minimalism and Masculinity

Magali Reus's solo exhibition at Ibid Projects in London, from January 22 to March 7, 2010, explores the intersections of minimalist sculpture, abstract expressionism, and masculine tropes. At the entrance, gray silicone strips (Spill, 2009) lie on the floor, suggesting absent sculptures. In the first room, Closure (2009), an aluminum ring molded from an industrial barrel hoop, leans against the wall, frozen open. Pattern Recognition (2009) features two brushed steel sheets laser-cut with dog-tag shapes, evoking rows of crosses in Normandy American cemeteries. Sheet Section (2009) combines Pollock-like drips with John McCracken's surfboard-inspired planks, critiquing the machismo of mid-century American art. The video Background (2009) shows athletic young men in paramilitary khaki performing interdependent exercises in a desert, with aluminum plates echoing the gallery's sculptures. Reus appropriates and recontextualizes formal languages to expose their historical gender biases.