A Rare Glimpse Into John Baldessari’s India Residency at Sprüth Magers
As part of Berlin Art Week 2024.
John Baldessari, a leading figure in American Conceptualism, consistently challenged artistic conventions, recontextualizing art through painting, photography, and mixed media. Drawing from various sources like film culture and philosophy, his work is both absurd and accessible. As part of Berlin Art Week 2024, Sprüth and Magers presents Ahmedabad 1992, a solo exhibition showcasing Baldessari’s mixed-media assemblages from his residency in India.
In early 1992, Baldessari stayed at the Sarabhai family compound in Ahmedabad, India, where he was inspired by local culture and rapid societal changes. His collages, featuring his own photographs, found imagery, and materials like rubber mudflaps and printed handmade paper, document this dynamic environment. The works reflect motion, technological shifts, and the everyday life of the bustling city, while also exploring the relationship between observing and being observed.
Key elements of Baldessari’s practice, such as reworking pre-existing imagery and covering faces with dots, are prominent in this series. The works blend his signature humor with raw depictions of everyday life, offering an intimate exploration of what it means to look and reflect during a time of transformation.
Sprüth and Magers
Oranienburger Str. 18
Berlin 10178
Germany
