sol lewitt: on the walls of the lower east side

‘on the walls of the lower east side’ photographic installation, on exhibition at the mondrian soho on crosby street in new york all images  © estate of sol lewitt / ARS, courtesy of paula cooper gallery, new york

in the outdoor installation ‘on the walls of the lower east side’, over a hundred photographs taken by sol lewitt in 1979 are mounted on the exterior wall of the mondrian soho hotel in new york. the exhibition, which measures 20 feet high by 60 feet wide, was curated by adam shopkorn as a collaboration between paula cooper gallery and morgans hotel group.

the 120 photographs on display showcase the graffiti of the neighborhood as documented by sol lewitt in 1979, ranging from simple sketches and tags to political scrawls and modified posters and advertisements. the installation takes its name from the artist’s original title for this photo series, although this marks the first time the works are presented in new york.

the mondrian soho hotel is located seven blocks west of sol lewitt’s former home and studio at 117 hester street, offering an interesting framing and ‘second life’ for the photographs and the historical moment they document.

closer view of one of the photo panels

additional photographs

sol lewitt documented the political scrawls, tags, and artistic interventions of the lower east side

time lapse footage of the installation’s construction process

street view

the installation process