urs fischer exhibits cast bronze sculptures at a former new york bank

urs fischer exhibits cast bronze sculptures at a former bank in new york
(above) urs fischer: mermaid / pig / bro w/ hat
april 3rd – may 23rd, 2014
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by stefan altenburger

urs fischer: mermaid / pig / bro w/ hat
gagosian gallery, new york
april 3rd – may 23rd, 2014

gagosian, new york presents an exhibition by swiss artist urs fischer in two parts, comprising a vast collection of abstract cast bronze sculptures. ‘mermaid / pig / bro w/ hat’ directly references the installation ‘YES’, which fischer made on-site at the geffen contemporary in 2013 together with 1,500 participants. ‘YES’ dealt with the ephemeral energy inherent in a creative collective, characterized by quick, raw, sketch-like work with clay; yet fischer’s new exhibition solidifies and eternilizes key elements of the original installation as cast, unpatinated bronze and gilded bronze figurative sculptures.

urs fischer, ‘last supper’, 2014
cast bronze
60 x 60 x 300 inches (152.4 x 152.4 x 762 cm)
edition 1/2 + 1 AP
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by melissa christy

one part of the exhibition inaugurates the opening of a new gagosian space in new york, hosting a single large-scale sculpture. ‘last supper’ is fischer’s take on the classical religious theme, cast in bronze from the original unfired clay composition that first appeared in ‘YES’. simultaneously, an exhibition of other sculptures are situated in a temporary location operated by gagosian in a former chase bank branch in lower manhattan. the features of the bank’s original architecture and decor have been retained, from the corporate signage to the vaults — an incongruous setting for fischer’s expressionistic and exuberant sculptures.

urs fischer, ‘last supper’, 2014
cast bronze
60 x 60 x 300 inches (152.4 x 152.4 x 762 cm)
edition 1/2 + 1 AP
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by melissa christy

urs fischer, ‘mermaid’, 2014
cast bronze
40 1/2 x 48 x 84 inches (102.9 x 121.9 x 213.4 cm)
edition 1/2 + 1 AP
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by melissa christy

urs fischer, ‘pietà’, 2014
cast bronze
58 x 50 x 61 1/2 inches (147.3 x 127 x 156.2 cm)
edition 1/2 + 1 AP
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by melissa christy

urs fischer, ‘boy w/ tongue’, 2014
cast bronze
35 1/2 x 18 x 18 inches (90.2 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)
edition 1/2 + 1 AP
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by mats nordman

urs fischer, ‘bro w/ hat’, 2014
cast bronze
71 x 46 x 36 inches (180.3 x 116.8 x 91.4 cm)
© urs fischer / courtesy of the artist and gagosian gallery / photography by melissa christy