‘oil evolution’, 2009, crude oil in the form of a homo sapien,

oil evolution
daneyal mahmood gallery, new york
february 26 - april 11, 2009

daneyal mahmood gallery in new york is currently showcasing the work of russian artist andrei molodkin.
the show is being held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of charles darwin’s birth. the show is a
continuation of molodkin’s work questioning the role of oil in western democracies, but also uses the idea
of oil as a ‘liquid record of the earth’s fossil history’. the show materializes this idea by representing
darwin’s model of evolution in a three-part installation. the show features primate, australopithecine and
homo sapien skulls encased in blocks of acrylic and linked by a series fo tubes circulating crude oil between
them. molodkin is communicating that ‘it is not DNA that is the great signifier, that which transmits the
virtues of one generation to the next, but oil – the new symbol of a universalized identity.’ included below
are installation views of the exhibit and sketches by the artist.

http://www.daneyalmahmood.com


‘oil evolution’, 2009, installation view


‘oil evolution’, 2009, crude oil in the form of a primate and video projection


‘oil evolution’, 2009, crude oil in the form of a primate


‘oil evolution’, 2009, crude oil in the form of a primate


‘oil evolution’, 2009, sketches by artist


‘oil evolution’, 2009, sketches by artist