William Corwin's 'Champollion' Exhibition at Geary Contemporary Features Hieroglyphic Sculptures
The exhibition 'Champollion' by William Corwin took place at Geary Contemporary in New York City from July 21 to August 12, 2016. This showcase presented sculptural works that served as visual hieroglyphs, paying homage to Jean-François Champollion, the man who decoded the Rosetta Stone. Corwin's creations, crafted from materials like lead, plaster, resin, and Hydrocal, varied in size from small castings to expansive installations. Noteworthy pieces included the translucent Lucite sculpture 'Double Doors of the Horizon' and a large white plywood display. Additionally, 'Bathtub Madonna' and 'Lion,' inspired by Abyssinian temple guardians, reflected his experiences in Ethiopia, hinting at a mythic post-apocalyptic narrative that intertwined sacred and secular themes while examining Western metaphysics.
Key facts
- Exhibition titled 'Champollion' ran July 21 to August 12, 2016
- Located at 185 Varick Street (at King Street) in New York City
- Featured sculptures functioning as visual hieroglyphs referencing Egyptologist Jean-François Champollion
- Materials included lead, plaster, resin, Hydrocal, and Lucite
- Centerpiece was a large stepped plywood display stand painted bone white
- Included works like 'Bathtub Madonna' and multiple 'Lion' castings
- Corwin recently visited Ethiopia, influencing some biblical references
- Exhibition invited viewers to engage as archaeologists and cryptologists
Entities
Artists
- William Corwin
- Jean-François Champollion
- Marcel Duchamp
- Henry David Thoreau
- Haile Selassie
- John Boorman
- Russell Hoban
Institutions
- Geary Contemporary
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Ethiopia
- France