nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery
st. andrews, jamacia-born artist nari ward’s second solo exhibition ‘liberty and orders’ at lehmann maupin gallery. over the past year, ward has gone through the legal process to become a naturalized US citizen. in an effort to fully digest this great change in his national identity, the artist has developed a cathartic study of his experience of this trying process. ‘liberty and orders’ is a detailed portrayal of the artist’s relationship with the law– living in a nation where he feels both security and anxiety towards set authority systems now officially governing his life.through large-scale sculptural works, both free-standing and wall-mounted, ward is able to examine the fine balance of control and freedom he now knows in his new homeland.

nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery
‘setting a good corner’, 2012
metal stake, pants pockets, foam and shoes
43 x 38 x 36 inches or 109.2 x 96.5 x 91.4 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery
‘homeland sweet homeland’, 2012
cloth, plastic, megaphones, razor wire, feathers, chains, and silver spoons
100 x 64 x 10 inches or 254 x 162.6 x 25.4 cm
in collaboration with the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, pa
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery
‘t.p. reign bow’, 2012
wood, blue tarp, brass grommets, zippers, human hair, taxidermy fox
224 x 156 x 270 inches or 569 x 396.2 x 685.8 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery
‘great reburn’, 2012
plexiglass, aluminum, linen, flag ash, gesso, aluminet shade cloth
60 x 108 inches or 152.4 x 274.3 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

 

 

nari ward: liberty and orders
lehmann maupin gallery, new york, USA
on view now until the 21st of april, 2012