Mark Armijo McKnight's Decreation exhibition at Whitney explores Simone Weil's philosophy through photography and film

At the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Mark Armijo McKnight's exhibition, Decreation, showcases five oversized black-and-white photographs, two limestone sundials, and a film projection that collectively transform a first-floor gallery. This exhibition, which runs until January 5, delves into Simone Weil's philosophical idea of 'decreation'—achieving fulfillment through self-dissolution. McKnight juxtaposes figurative and landscape imagery to challenge traditional views on nature, birth, and death. Notable works include Anti-Mater (2023), featuring a woman in a flower field, and Ez Ozel (or: Father Figure) (2023), showcasing a goat skeleton. Somnia (2024) presents three nude figures against rocky terrain, while The Black Place (ii) (2024) alludes to Georgia O'Keeffe's New Mexico inspirations. The 11-minute film Without a Song (2024) immerses viewers in the Bisti Badlands, while Duet (2024) offers minimalist limestone sculptures with clock-like markings for seating. The smallest piece, Clouds (Decreation) (2024), depicts a white puff on a black backdrop. McKnight's work encapsulates the New Mexican desert's vastness within the museum, fostering empathy through absence and omission.