Siah Armajani's tomb sculptures for poets and thinkers at Alexander Gray Associates

Between October 27 and December 17, 2016, Siah Armajani presented a striking collection of sculptures at Alexander Gray Associates in New York. This exhibition paid tribute to four significant figures: poets Arthur Rimbaud and Frank O'Hara, philosopher Richard Rorty, and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Armajani transformed the gallery into a kind of mortuary temple, reviving a sculptural style that had faded in the 20th century. Each tomb had its own distinct features, like Bonhoeffer's coffin on bold red sawhorses, which included a noose representing his execution. The display also featured elements such as O'Hara's ghostly chairs for late-night chats, Rimbaud's ramp symbolizing youth, and Rorty's architectural beige box. Additional works, like Written Iran and 100 and 1 Dead Poets, explored the connection between language and urban design, with Armajani's limited color palette adding humor and energy to the series while linking art, politics, and life.