Manny Farber's 'Termite Art' Theory Explored in Helen Molesworth's Final MOCA Exhibition

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, is hosting Helen Molesworth's final exhibition as chief curator, featuring Manny Farber's concept of 'termite art' through his paintings and a curated group show. Defined in Farber's 1962 essay, termite art focuses on entropy and everyday details. Molesworth ties this idea to feminist methodologies and anti-hierarchical curation, referencing her 2010 essay 'How to Install Art as a Feminist.' The exhibition includes Farber's works from the 1970s to the 1990s, alongside contemporary pieces like Jordan Casteel's funeral wreath and Maurice Harris's 'Protect My Opulence' (2018–19), which wilts over time, emphasizing impermanence. Molesworth asserts, 'the everyday is political.' The exhibit is open until 11 March 2019, as noted in ArtReview's December 2018 issue.