Modern Alexander art
Many thanks to Fiona, who first learnt about this unusual and gorgeous piece modern sculpture of Alexander the Great by Milton Rosa-Ortiz from a decsription by art writer Rafael Risemberg:
"It's Paradise Found
Milton Rosa-Ortiz's Exquisite Garden of Eden hanging sculptures
By RAFAEL RISEMBERG
Friday, March 02, 2007
I first came across Puerto Rican artist Milton Rosa-Ortiz's work two summers ago, as part of Exit Art's ambitious HomoMuseum group show of gay and lesbian artists. His was a spectacular hanging sculpture of Alexander the Great in bed with his male lover, made of nothing but ammo shells suspended by monofilament (similar to fishing line). The piece was so meticulously crafted, and the content so apropos, I was eager to see an entire exhibit of Rosa-Ortiz's work. Now that a solo show of his most recent work has finally arrived, at Magnan Projects in Chelsea, I am delighted to report that it more than lives up to my exceedingly high expectations."
Another writer, James Wagner, had this to say, about the original show (which was in New York in 2005):
"The New York show is an account which stretches from the immediate past back until, well, ancient history. It actually starts in the mists of pre- history with an image of two female Bonobo apes pleasuring each other under the inquisitive gaze of a young son, moves through the fourth century before the Christian era to a sculpture installation depicting Alexander lying beneath his lover Hephaestion [the medium: suspended empty U.S. military shell cases], and continues to our own moment with projected images of AA Bronson and a description of the opening night performances by black male diva songstresses."
Fiona then hunted down an image of this sculpture.
"It's Paradise Found
Milton Rosa-Ortiz's Exquisite Garden of Eden hanging sculptures
By RAFAEL RISEMBERG
Friday, March 02, 2007
I first came across Puerto Rican artist Milton Rosa-Ortiz's work two summers ago, as part of Exit Art's ambitious HomoMuseum group show of gay and lesbian artists. His was a spectacular hanging sculpture of Alexander the Great in bed with his male lover, made of nothing but ammo shells suspended by monofilament (similar to fishing line). The piece was so meticulously crafted, and the content so apropos, I was eager to see an entire exhibit of Rosa-Ortiz's work. Now that a solo show of his most recent work has finally arrived, at Magnan Projects in Chelsea, I am delighted to report that it more than lives up to my exceedingly high expectations."
Another writer, James Wagner, had this to say, about the original show (which was in New York in 2005):
"The New York show is an account which stretches from the immediate past back until, well, ancient history. It actually starts in the mists of pre- history with an image of two female Bonobo apes pleasuring each other under the inquisitive gaze of a young son, moves through the fourth century before the Christian era to a sculpture installation depicting Alexander lying beneath his lover Hephaestion [the medium: suspended empty U.S. military shell cases], and continues to our own moment with projected images of AA Bronson and a description of the opening night performances by black male diva songstresses."
Fiona then hunted down an image of this sculpture.