New Museum Opens Largest Exhibition Ever with 4,000 Works

The New Museum in New York has opened 'The Keeper', its largest curatorial project ever, featuring over 4,000 works across four floors. Curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the exhibition centers on Ydessa Hendeles' installation 'Partners (The Teddy Bear Project, 2002)', which includes more than 3,000 vintage family photos of people with teddy bears. Gioni describes the show as highlighting the act of collecting and the 'iconophilic' attitude of collectors. The exhibition explores the symbiotic relationship between people and their objects, presenting personal stories through preserved and collected items. It previously appeared at the Ydessa Hendeles Art Foundation in Toronto (2002), Haus der Kunst in Munich (2003), National Gallery of Canada (2004), and Gwangju Biennale (2010). The show also reflects on the role of institutions as promoters of culture and artistic identity.