Sean Kelly is delighted to present Invisible Dimension, an exhibition of seven extraordinary new sculptures by Mariko Mori. Fastidiously produced using the most technically advanced methods currently available, these luminous new works advance Mori’s inquiry into the mysteries of the universe through her deepening interest in unobservable energy. For her second exhibition at the gallery, Mori has increased both the scale and magnitude of her sculptures, creating monumental works, some of which embrace the architecture of the space. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, March 22 from 6 – 8 pm. The artist will be present.
The sculptures in Invisible Dimension are an expression of Mori’s ongoing research into superstring theory and particle physics, coupled with her speculation as to how multiple hidden universes might be represented. Occupying all three galleries, six of the works will be installed in pairs, the juxtaposition of which question whether it is the collision and union of two elements that creates a new reality when considering phenomena such as the Big Bang Theory, particle physics, or human procreation.
Cycloid V and Ekpyrotic String VI, the two largest sculptures will be exhibited in the Main Gallery. They are inspired by the latest astrophysics theories, particularly the “Ekpyrotic Universe,” which postulates an endless cyclic universe that eternally repeats life and death—a theory akin to the Buddhist idea of transmogrification. Plasma Stones, in the Front Gallery, represent the beginning of the universe; these sculptures reflect a full spectrum of color to suggest the plasma state, a memory of the Big Bang.
In the Lower Gallery are two Spirifer sculptures (a term the artist has coined), representing the invisible fire of the spirit, which, as Mori suggests one cannot see, but nonetheless feels within the body. These works, as well as Orbicle I, represent a different dimension of hidden space, giving form to realms that remain imperceptible in nature, but vividly realized via the artist’s imagination.
Mariko Mori has been the subject of numerous international solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, London, United Kingdom; the Japan Society, New York; Espace Louis Vuitton, Tokyo, Japan; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan; The Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; and the Serpentine Gallery, London, United Kingdom among others. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; the Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom; the Asia Society, New York; the Prada Foundation, Milan, Italy; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles; the Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo, New York; the PinchukArtCenter, Kyiv, Ukraine and the Guggenheim Museum, New York to name a few. Mori has participated in major international biennales including Venice, Istanbul, Sydney, Shanghai, São Paulo, and Singapore. In August 2016, Mori premiered her public permanent installation Ring: One with Nature with the endorsement of the Celebra Cultural Program of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.