Tara Donovan's Phenomenological Sculpture at PaceWildenstein Explores Perception Through Plastic Cups

From March 11 to April 22, 2006, Tara Donovan's display at PaceWildenstein in New York featured her sculpture "Untitled (Plastic Cups)" (2006), which spans roughly 50 by 55 feet. This artwork consists of plastic cups meticulously stacked on a grid, prompting viewers to experience shifts between illusion and reality. By adjusting the arrangement of the cups, Donovan creates effects of light and form that mimic digital pixels. The design incorporates both staggered and straight rows, leading to rounded surface illusions. The translucency of the cups interacts with light, casting intricate shadows. While cups touching the ground are glued, the higher stacks appear to sag, introducing an element of fragility. The installation suggests an imaginary landscape, drawing on cognitive neuroscience ideas explored by Uri Hasson, and invites a reevaluation of reality.