Gucci And Maurizio Cattelan Stage An Exhibition In Shanghai, And This Is Why You’ll Want To Visit
Together with Gucci, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan takes his signature brand of satire to the Yuz Museum in Shanghai. Titled ‘The Artist Is Present’, a peek at the exhibition not to be missed.
by Andrea Sim /
October 17, 2018
Call to mind the temperamental, brooding artist whose work, worshipped by the art cognoscenti, fails to resonate with your regular exhibition-goer. Now hold that thought, because Maurizio Cattelan is the antithesis of the caricature. His work and brand of satire precedes his name; the artist’s four-metre tall statue of a middle finger in Milan’s Piazza Affari has probably popped up on your Instagram explore page, precisely because his off-the-wall humour is something that most can get. And at Cattelan’s exhibition in Shanghai backed by Gucci — titled The Artist Is Present, in which he’s both curator and creator — there is plenty to get.
‘The Artist Is Present’, now at the Yuz Museum in Shanghai.
It’s rooted in the idea that copying is at once sacrilegious, but too the highest compliment; that the bootleg possesses its own value, despite being imitation; and that in today’s world, what isn’t a copy of something else? At the Yuz Museum in Shanghai — the metropolis of a country known for top-tier imitation — it comes to life in Cattelan’s curation of artworks by over 30 artists, including his very own copy of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.
The exhibition takes the name of Marina Abramovic’s acclaimed performance art show, ‘The Artist Is Present’. The original was staged in 2010.
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Here, recreation and repetition takes centrestage in marble surfboards by Reena Spaulings, and typography by Lawrence Weiner.
Having It Both Ways, 2016
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When art imitates still life in Margaret Lee’s objects of desire, encased for all to peer at as one does a painting.
Untitled, 2018
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By Cattelan himself, the artist’s imitation of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling in a 1:6 ratio pits the value of a copy against that of the original, to the exhibition-goer. By transporting the masterpiece to Shanghai, it begs the question: would you still visit the art work in the Vatican City?
Power Toilets/Council of the European Union, 2018
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A replica of a toilet in the EU building by Superflex, copied by sneaking photos in the top security environment for reference.
Shanghai (all places contains all others), 2018
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In the likeness of a gift shop, the postcards on the wall (far back) by Aleksandra Mir feature scenery and landmarks from around the globe. The location on every single one of them? Shanghai.
Gucci Sylvie bag made with Lego bricks
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And of course, an homage to Alessandro Michele’s Gucci: Lego artist Andy Hung Chi-Kin’s rendition of the Sylvie.
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Wigs, a bronze tire, a marble and steel peach — by Nina Beier, Matt Johnson and Nevine Mahmoud respectively.
Cloaca N°5, 2006
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Now art imitates life in Wim Delvoye’s interpretation of the human digestive system. And yes, it takes a shit — literally.
Self Portrait as My Father Brian Wearing and Self Portrait as My Mother Jean Gregory, both 2003
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Self-portraits by Gillian Wearing posing as her parents. The artist recreated their likeness with face masks, wigs, the works.
But it’s not just Gucci’s Alessandro Michele — earlier this year, he anointed fashion appropriator Dapper Dan (prosecuted in the ’90s for his unlicensed “copies” of luxury brand logos) with his very own Gucci-backed atelier — who perceives the value in imitation. In Cattelan’s universe spotlighting the notion with delightful wit, it’s plain for all to see.
