Wadsworth Showcases Contemporary Dutch Artist in the Matrix Gallery
Section of The Shooting … At Watou, photo by MiraHartford
For the past week, as one entered the Avery Court suites of the Wadsworth Atheneum, they were greeted by this giant peaking through the doorway. The installation is titled The Shooting … At Watou, by Dutch sculptor Folkert de Jong and opens on Saturday, January 31, 2009. It will be up until June. Here is a few words from the press release,
The installation uses the familiar allegorical tale of David and Goliath to depict the battle between Spain and the Dutch Republic during the Eighty Years’ War. Spain is represented by the giant 10 foot-tall Goliath, while the life-sized figures symbolize the heroic Dutch.Highly recommend checking it out.
“The Shooting is very provocative, but at the same time, its playful use of scale and color is engaging to both children and families, and we are thrilled to have it here in Hartford,” said Susan L. Talbott, Director, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and curator of the exhibition. “The artist’s use of the grotesque as commentary on society amplifies the relevance of contemporary art today and its ability to engender dialogue.”
It was quite startling and amazing the first time, and it continues to startle me every time I look to the left and see it.
Posts
2 comments:
I do believe that I would go see almost anything made by anybody named Folkert de Jong. Thanks for the heads up!!
It's a very interesting scuptor's work. It looks like he was pointing to the shooter and getting away to save his life!
Post a Comment