How Nairy Baghramian transformed The Met's historic facade into a sculptural dialogue
In short: Go behind the scenes with artist Nairy Baghramian as she discusses the creation of her 2023 Facade Commission for The Met. This installation features four abstract sculptures designed to occupy the museum's iconic exterior niches, marking the artist's first public project in New York City.
Nairy Baghramian, born in Iran in 1971 and based in Berlin since 1984, is known for site-responsive work that challenges the boundaries between private and public space. Her commission, titled Scratching the Back, consists of polychrome sculptures that appear as if they have washed into the museum's niches like flotsam and jetsam. These abstract forms engage directly with the architecture, evoking fragments of the body and complex junctures.
The installation, which was on view from September 7, 2023, through May 28, 2024, represents the fourth entry in The Met's contemporary facade series. Baghramian's practice is defined by her subversive use of materials and a focus on the dynamics of gender and physical form, creating a stark, modern contrast within the traditional museum environment.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Meet the Artist—The Facade Commission: Nairy Baghramian, Scratching the Back | Met Exhibitions
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