Shaq Curates Art Exhibition Called Size DOES Matter
- Author: Min-Q Kim
- Posted on: Monday March 15, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- Filed under: sports, art, shaquille o'neal, flag art foundation, stephanie roach, fred wilson, tim hawkinson, paul pfeiffer, exclusive
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -Walt Whitman
Paul Pfeiffer
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: 2002
Digital duraflex print
47 x 57 inches
He's a four-time NBA champion, not to mention one of the most dominant big men to step onto a basketball court in history. Some argue that he has singlehandedly changed the way other 7-foot ballplayers have had to play the game, with more and more "big men" developing polished outside games, because the paint just could not accommodate two bodies if Shaquille O'Neal was one of them.
Now, it seems Shaq himself is stepping out of his [vast] comfort zone, into the arena of modern art. In concert with The FLAG Art Foundation in New York City, Shaq has curated an exhibition, called Size DOES Matter, that focuses on the concept of scale, and how it affects the perception of contemporary art.
Tim Hawkinson
Scout, 2006-2007
cardboard, box strapping and urethane foam
72" x 8' 4" x 58" (182.9 cm x 254 cm x 147.3 cm)
Photo by: Joshua White / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
© Tim Hawkinson, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
"Glenn Fuhrman, the founder of FLAG, had the idea of doing a show about size and we brainstormed a curator that would bring a unique spin to it," director of FLAG, Stephanie Roach, told JT.com. "Shaquille O’Neal clearly embodies a larger than life presence with his appearance alone; he is also one of the most historically important players in the NBA, has a HUGE off-court personality and is involved in a variety of creative ventures that made him a perfect choice in our mind."
The installation, located on West 25th St. in Chelsea, is two floors of mind-bending pieces and installations that challenge your sense of big and small: dwarfing you, aggrandizing you, speeding you up, and slowing you down as you walk around the space. From the word go, the elevator doors open and you are met by two cartoon mouse-sized elevator doors, tiny scaled-down replicas of the ones you just walked through. Then, you turn the corner to walk into a room with a giant 20-foot high kitchen table set, all of which basically makes you feel like Alice walking through Wonderland, or a traveler in a Jonathan Swift novel.
Maurizio Cattelan
Untitled, 2001
stainless steel, composition wood, electric motor, electric bell, electric light, paint and computer in two parts
Each elevator: 11 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches, edition of 10
Shaquille O'Neal enjoying his exhibition. (Photography by Genevieve Hanson, New York.)
The rest of the exhibition is a mix of painting, sculpture, photography -- pretty much any medium you can think of -- all personally chosen by Shaq or specially made at his request. Turns out the man's got eyes - to borrow a Kerouac phrase - even letting his playful personality occasionally shine through, like with the giant beads of motor oil that appeared to be dripping down the far corner of the space, and a vibrant Koons piece that screams, 'MIAMI,' where Shaq won his last championship and currently calls home.
Fred Wilson
Viscous Risk, 2002
blown glass
120 x 204 x 84
Photograph by Ellen Labenski, courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
© Fred Wilson, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
Jeff Koons
Beach House, 2003
oil on canvas
102'' x 138''
© Jeff Koons
This exciting exhibition is on view now until May 27, 2010, so get to it if you can. FLAG is open to the public every Wednesday through Saturday 12pm to 5pm. For more info, check out the FLAG website.
Special Thanks to Stephanie Roach, director of FLAG, for her help on this post.
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COMMENTS
“ I work Tue. Fri. and Sat. from 10-3, but I'm usually off by 2:30 since it's slow... :) Not that you asked or that you will come, just sayin'. If you want ed to find me, that's how you would do it. I promise I won't ask for your autograph. Maybe just a kiss on the cheek if I brushed my teeth that day. ;P ”
“ You should come into King's Road Café in Sherman Oaks sometime. We have great coffee, voted best in LA by Details, I think it was. Usually I just get the blackened chicken breast with a side of avocado vinagrette. Yummy! ”
“ Omg. Look at the size of those hands. I must say the glass teardrops are ever so lovely. ”
“ Omg. Look at the size of those hands. I must say the glass teardrops are ever so lovely. ”
“ Omg. Look at the size of those hands. I must say the glass teardrops are ever so lovely. ”
“ Great idea! Love seeing a creative mind work and gain success!!!!!! Hope it continues to grow! regards. http://www.cooperburns.co.uk ”
“ Cool stuff. ”
“ Cool stuff. ”
“ haha imagine getting a hug from a person wearing picture 2 ”
“ Love the elevator one and glass one! ”
