Alexandre Arrechea's No Limits will be on display at various points along Manhattan's famous Park Avenue from March 1st through June 9th, 2013. This site-specific installation is supported by New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation and The Fund for Park Avenue's Sculpture Committee. It comprises 10 works symbolizing prominent, iconic New York City buildings, including the Chrysler, CityCorp Center, Empire State, MetLife, and US Court buildings. Arrechea plays with the notion of an elastic architecture as a metaphor for the challenges and opportunities posed by shifting conditions and new realities. The sculptures will be placed along Park Avenue, between 53rd and 67th Streets, and will rise to a height of 20 feet.
Alexandre Arrechea's work uses sculpture, watercolor, and video to reflect on the idea of destabilizing our traditional understanding of certain icons and their function in society. His art is created with the intention of generating a dialog with the audience about topics like control, power, surveillance, and the role we each play within these categories. Arrechea plays with architecturally emblematic buildings and urban spaces to attract viewers and prod them to explore this concept.
As part of the event, Phillips de Pury will present an exhibition of Arrechea's works in its space located at 450 Park Avenue, opening on April 6th. The show is curated by Alexandra Raponi, from Phillips de Pury's contemporary art department, along with Alberto Magnan and Dara Metz. It includes sculptures, watercolors, and video works, and will remain open through April 12th.
The accompanying Alexandre Arrechea catalog, which includes No Limits, contains essays by Lowery S. Sims, curator of the Museum of Arts and Design, and Holly Block, director of The Bronx Museum of the Arts.