Flash Art
March/April 2005
Donald Young Gallery
Martin Puryear
by Claire Wolf Krantz
In five sculptures created from 1995 to 2005, Martin Puryear extends themes and processes he has explored during his career. These works embrace many dichotomies: they are abstract yet refer to animal or architectural forms; they appear solid yet open, their mesh‑like skins delineate volume; and while playful they are seriously concerned with ideas.
My favorite piece, "Le Prix"(2005), resembles a snail in arrested motion; its head, a wooden circle, is held high and thrust forward on a neck carved to resemble a chain. A faceted solid section suggesting the snail's shell reverses this forward thrust and grounds it. Painted a light blue, with edges of wood exposed, this witty sculpture is abstract, yet it refers to concrete objects.
Other references inform "ADistant Place"(2005). A white geometrical chapel like structure sits atop a cross lying on the ground. Enveloping these architectural elements is a mass of burled maple alluding to the earth, thus contrasting structured, codified religion with organic materiality. Finally, a twisting spire resembling a unicorn's horn soars upward towards the heavens, transforming earthly ritual into spirit. In "Untitled"(2005), a solid pine side and base supports an open spherical volume defined by bent rattan sticks loosely attached with wire. From the front, the wall looks like a goofy face, with openings suggesting eyes and an open mouth. Only by looking through the openwork screen to the backside can one see that these openings are deceptive; bulbous shapes seal routes for entry or escape. Imaginatively moving around inside and outside this humorous sculpture, slipping through the enclosure's porous skin, can elicit frightening and claustrophobic responses, but it can also imply openness and freedom.
Puryear's elegant works are beautifully crafted, sensitive to their meanings and economical in means. The intelligence, humor and simplicity of these outstanding sculptures underpin their superb craftsmanship.
Claire Wolf Krantz is an artist, freelance critic, and guest curator.
As an artist she works in a combination of painting and photography as well as digitally created images.