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Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’

David Zwirner New York

14 September 16 - 22 October 16

In a futile mercantile disposition, a maze-like room-sized installation of several hundred black paintings and steel structures inspired by morgue tables, the idea of a finished work becomes inseparable from process and materials. Each of the canvases has been covered with two coats of paint on both sides and is displayed draped across metal wires, folded, or casually scattered. Not two are alike: some have been cut into strips and sewn together in a unique pattern, while others bear evidence of previous use as oil pads in the studio, with marks left behind by other works, or of having moved around with the artist on his travels. Alternating sheer and opaque surfaces distinguish newer canvases from older ones, and the lingering smell of paint offers a sense of their ongoing production. A monitor displaying a silent video of a spinning top in perpetual motion is positioned as a catalyst activating the space.

The element of patchwork is more clearly visible in another group of paintings on view, which represent a continuation of the vibrant and visually complex works for which Murillo first became known. Including multiple layers of marks from repeated brushwork and printing, they contain recognizable, if jumbled, imagery drawn from such sources as a Jamaican two dollar bill, playing cards, coconut water packaging, and a Colombian animal feed wrapper. In contrast, through patches of corn, wheat and mud, a large-scale and partially torn painting that shares its title with the exhibition, is devoid of figuration, focusing attention fully on its intricate pattern of canvas fragments that are covered with natural latex and minutely stitched together. Installed with a metal armature similar to the sculptural arrangements in a futile mercantile disposition, it offers the impression of a sturdy landscape to be traversed.

Also on view is the prototype of Them, an intimate travel journal and unique artist book that Murillo released last year. With a large selection of family photographs and drawings, it provides a practical illustration of some of the layering techniques used for his paintings, as well as the overall centrality of mark-making within his work: carbon paper between the pages means that traces of one drawing become part of several others, and continuous retouching confuses the idea of a negative and positive image.

The exhibition coincides with Murillo’s participation in Printed Matter’s 2016 New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 (September 15-18). In collaboration with Mandy El-Sayegh, an artist based in London, and Yutaka Sone, who is also represented by David Zwirner, Murillo will stage Room Services, a live, multi-day drawing and printing performance, creating unique books, zines, and editions.

 

David Zwirner (press release)

 

Installation view of Oscar Murillo through patches of corn, wheat and mud at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
a futile mercantile disposition, 2016 Oil and oil stick on canvas and linen, stainless steel, vinyl, latex, copper, PVC tubing, self-hardening clay with ground corn, and single channel video Dimensions vary with installation Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
a futile mercantile disposition, 2016
Oil and oil stick on canvas and linen, stainless steel, vinyl, latex, copper, PVC tubing, self-hardening clay with ground corn, and single channel video
Dimensions vary with installation
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
through patches of corn, wheat and mud, 2016 Latex on linen with steel and scale Overall: 174 x 268 x 30 1/2 inches (442 x 680.7 x 77.5 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
through patches of corn, wheat and mud, 2016
Latex on linen with steel and scale
Overall: 174 x 268 x 30 1/2 inches (442 x 680.7 x 77.5 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Untitled, 2015-2016 Oil, oil stick, and graphite on canvas and linen 82 3/4 x 82 3/4 inches (210 x 210 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Untitled, 2015-2016
Oil, oil stick, and graphite on canvas and linen
82 3/4 x 82 3/4 inches (210 x 210 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
HK-pig KE 908, 2015-2016 Oil, oil stick, and graphite on canvas and linen 100 1/4 x 106 1/8 inches (254.6 x 269.6 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
‘HK-pig KE 908’, 2015-2016
Oil, oil stick, and graphite on canvas and linen
100 1/4 x 106 1/8 inches (254.6 x 269.6 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
education, out of one many people, 2015-2016 Oil and oil stick on canvas and linen 76 3/4 x 76 3/4 inches (194.9 x 194.9 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
‘education, out of one many people’, 2015-2016
Oil and oil stick on canvas and linen
76 3/4 x 76 3/4 inches (194.9 x 194.9 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
organisms from all countries unite, 2016 Graphite, oil stick, colored pencil on paper, and carbon paper in artist’s frames Six (6) parts Overall: 106 x 130 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches (269.2 x 331.5 x 4.4 cm) Each: 51 5/8 x 41 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches (131.1 x 105.4 x 4.4 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
organisms from all countries unite, 2016
Graphite, oil stick, colored pencil on paper, and carbon paper in artist’s frames, Six (6) parts
Overall: 106 x 130 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches (269.2 x 331.5 x 4.4 cm)
Each: 51 5/8 x 41 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches (131.1 x 105.4 x 4.4 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
THEM., 2015 – ongoing Clothbound artist’s book of ink jet prints and original drawings on paper 8 3/4 x 11 7/8 inches (22 x 30 cm) Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
‘THEM.’, 2015 – ongoing
Clothbound artist’s book of ink jet prints and original drawings on paper
8 3/4 x 11 7/8 inches (22 x 30 cm)
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of Oscar Murillo 'through patches of corn, wheat and mud' at David Zwirner, New York 2016.
Installation view of Oscar Murillo ‘through patches of corn, wheat and mud’ at David Zwirner, New York 2016.

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