Before it closes in only a couple of weeks, Barry le Va’s retrospective should absolutely be on your “to-visit” list. “In A State of Flux” is exactly how Le Va once described his own art during an exhibition in New York, saying “static” was the worst thing it could be.
Le Va was a celebrated American artist who frequently refused to exhibit in his lifetime, known as having been “not such an easy guy to be around”. However, after his passing in 2021, Fruitmarket has put on a retrospective. Given his refusal in his lifetime, it is worth keeping in mind when visiting that he was unable to give his opinion on the organisation of this exhibition, or whether he would have even agreed to it.
How does this provoke a difference of opinion when visiting? For me, Fruitmarket have excelled in producing this exhibition: all the art is in an uncrowded space, a simple display emphasizing the post-minimalist style of the art. Given that much of his art was process art, which is difficult to install without the artist themselves, Fruitmarket have worked around this challenge, keeping the spontaneity of Le Va’s work whilst meticulously copying his design. But is it right to view this art when Le Va so frequently refused to exhibit? I think this is something you should decide for yourself after visiting.
Though primarily known for floor art, the exhibition features Barry Le Va’s drawing and painting as well as sculpture, which are created from any material from glass to flour, often in seemingly random layouts. The unusual art requires an open mind from the visitor, but does this not make it even more worth visiting: to see a new perspective and a new form?
“Barry Le Va at Mary Boone Gallery” by osunick is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.