Perrotin Tokyo Gallery recently presented Daniel Arsham’s 31st Century Still Life exhibition, featuring new works from three series, including a set of five new still life paintings using impasto technique, new sculptures made of a mix of bronze and stainless steel, and three plaster pieces of movie posters from Arsham’s fictional archaeology series.
右：Daniel Arsham，Still Life with Eroded Bust of Lucius Verus, Sneakers, Helmet, and Basketball，2022，布面丙烯，182.9×152.4cm. 攝影：Kei Okano. 圖片提供：藝術家與貝浩登
右：Daniel Arsham，Still Life with Eroded Bust of Diana the Huntress, Sneaker, and Porsche，2022，布面丙烯，152.4×127cm. 攝影：Kei Okano. 圖片提供：藝術家與貝浩登
From Pieter Claesz to Paul Cezanne, still life painting has always been a favored genre among contemporary artists, showcasing trendy items from everyday life since the 15th century. In this new series of still life works by Arsham, he draws inspiration from his own craftsmanship and portraiture to construct intricate scenes in a thickly painted style. Alongside numerous Greek mythological figures, there is also a fusion of contemporary elements such as the artist’s personal favorite Air Jordan sneakers and multicolored basketballs, as well as flowers, fabrics, and books as props. These objects from different eras come together to form the still life images of future centuries.
右：Daniel Arsham，Amalgamized Head of Hermes of Olympia，2022，鏡面不銹鋼、青銅，50.8×50.8×33cm. 攝影：Kei Okano. 圖片提供：藝術家與貝浩登
In terms of three-dimensional works, Arsham showcased two new sculptures of the Greek god Hermes and the Italian nobleman Giuliano de’Medici, both inspired by ancient to Renaissance-era artworks. Arsham recast these sculptures in a combination of bronze and polished stainless steel, creating a visual effect that blurs the line between decay and regeneration.
右：Daniel Arsham，Quartz Eroded Space Odyssey Movie Poster，2022，石英石、亞硒酸鹽、石膏，61.6×41.9×3.2cm. 攝影：Kei Okano. 圖片提供：藝術家與貝浩登
In the adjacent exhibition spaces, there are three sculptures paying tribute to the science fiction films “E.T.,” “Back to the Future and 2001,” and “Space Odyssey.” The artist used plaster, combined with quartz and calcite, to reshape the movie posters, as if rediscovering these classics from past eras in the future world.
Daniel Arsham: 31st Century Still Lifes
Date: From now until October 15, 2022 (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Time: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: 1st floor, PIRAMIDE Building, 6-6-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Image source and learn more: Perrotin
