For the first time in over two decades, contemporary Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan unveiled a new solo gallery exhibition at Gagosian New York.
Titled “Sunday,” the exhibition showcases gilded panels riddled with bullet holes alongside a provocative urinating fountain sculpture, delving into themes of violence and inequality in the United States.
Cattelan’s presence in the contemporary art scene is intriguing; while some may dismiss him as a mere prankster, his politically charged artworks often ignite crucial discussions and occasionally provoke outrage.
The focal point of the exhibition “Sunday” is a wall comprised of square steel panels plated in 24-carat gold. To bring this installation to life, Maurizio Cattelan enlisted professionals’ expertise from a Brooklyn gun range, transforming them into a makeshift firing squad. Using legally obtained semiautomatic weapons and shotguns, they discharged over 20,000 rounds of ammunition into the steel panels. Each of the 64 panels stands roughly 54 inches tall and weighs 80 pounds, akin to the size of an average 10-year-old child. Positioned together on a single wall, “Sunday” offers a stark and weighty contrast, juxtaposing the opulent allure of wealth with the grim reality of gun violence’s devastating impact.
In front of the gilded wall adorned with bullet-ridden panels, Maurizio Cattelan introduced his inaugural fountain sculpture, aptly titled “November.” Crafted from marble, it portrays a reclining figure, seemingly homeless, seated on a bench with an exposed phallus from which water spouts. Cattelan’s intention with the sculpture is to shed light on “the swathes of people who are invisible in society.” “November” boldly brings the act of public urination into an exclusive, high-end space, forcing viewers to confront the stark realities of New York City’s housing crisis, which unfolds just beyond the doors of the spacious blue-chip Gagosian Gallery.
The exhibition’s curator, Francesco Bonami, ingeniously linked “November” thematically to its gilded counterpart, “Sunday,” by posing a provocative question: “If you’re free to purchase an assault rifle in a department store, what’s the issue with urinating in public?”
