CLEARANCE policy
Bernhard Mendes
Hardcover | 25.4 x 2.5 x 30.5 cm | 160 pp
Hatje Cantz | 2014 | 9783775737937
Charles Ray (b. 1953 in Chicago) is among the most outstanding sculptors of the present day. Like Jeff Koons and Katharina Fritsch, his work explores a new approach to sculptural figuration. This catalogue provides an overview of the major sculptures Ray has created since 1997, including several previously unpublished works.
One example is the white-painted steel sculpture Boy with Frog (2009), which attracted much attention at the Punta della Dogana in Venice, where it was displayed until recently. The oversized figure of a nude boy, who is engaging with the animal world in a playful, if cruel manner, recalls the idealisation of classical sculpture, despite its naturalism. Superbly executed, the work has a timeless quality, and its enormous weight is not apparent. Many people who see it do not realise that it is a contemporary work of art.