1. Installation view "Shahryar Nashat. Streams of Spleen", MASI Lugano, 2024, Photo : © MASI Lugano, photography Luca Meneghel
Stream of Spleen: Shahryar Nashat's immersive exploration of the human condition
Since March 2024, the Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI) in Lugano present "Streams of Spleen," an ambitious solo exhibition of the Swiss artist Shahryar Nashat. Known for his multifaceted approach to art, Nashat's work consistently interrogates the perceptions and representations of the human body through various media, including video, sculpture, and installations. This exhibition, curated by Francesca Benini, promises an immersive experience that reconfigures the gallery space to reflect the intricate themes Nashat explores.
Transformation space and experience
2. Installation view "Shahryar Nashat. Streams of Spleen", MASI Lugano, 2024, Photo : © MASI Lugano, photography Luca Meneghel
Upon entering the venue of MASI, visitors are immediately struck by the transformation of the space. The artist has covered the entire floor with vinyl tiles and adjusted the lighting to create a new atmosphere. Central to this environment is a low-ceilinged construction, compelling visitors to navigate through it while accompanied by an enigmatic soundscape.
The centerpiece of "Streams of Spleen" is the new video work, "Warnings" (2024). This video, integrated into the central structure, plays on a continuous loop across a large screen array. It features wolves depicted through various media, filmed in nature, digitally drawn, and recreated using artificial intelligence.
Despite the apparent vitality and strength of the wolves, the work is amplified by a haunting soundtrack that transitions from wheezing to a symphony of howls, and finally to frenetic electronic beats.
Exploring the human body
3. Shahryar Nashat, Brother_03.JPEG, 2023, Acrylic gel, ink on paper, plywood, Courtesy of the artist, Gladstone Gallery, New York, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles and Rodeo Gallery, London/Piraeus © The artist
Nashat's fascination with the human body is evident throughout the exhibition. His "Bone Out" series, ongoing since 2019, presents sculptures resembling unidentifiable pieces of meat, invoking the processes of the food industry and the commodification of flesh. These works challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the body as both an object and a subject.
The "Boyfriend" series ("Boyfriend_14.JPEG", "Boyfriend_15.JPEG", "Boyfriend_16.JPEG") further explores this theme by merging flesh with geometric forms. The fibreglass sculptures, marked by intentional imperfections revealing muscle and bone, evoke a sense of vulnerability while simultaneously asserting a palpable, relatable presence.
Historical references
Nashat's work is deeply rooted in art historical traditions, as seen in his marble sculptures "Hustler_23.JPEG" and "Hustler_24.JPEG". Using Rosa Portugal marble, these pieces invoke the classical and modern uses of marble to depict the human body. The natural veining and warm hues of the marble reinforce the corporeal references, bridging the ancient and contemporary in a dialogue about materiality and representation.
"Streams of Spleen" offers an in-depth exploration of the complexities of the human condition through Shahryar Nashat's innovative and immersive artistic approach. By transforming the exhibition space and engaging with multisensory experiences, Nashat invites visitors to reflect on their own perceptions and the broader implications of human existence in a digitized world. This exhibition not only underscores Nashat's position within contemporary art but also contributes to ongoing dialogues about the body, materiality, and the role of art in society.
Biography
Born in 1975 in Geneva, Shahryar Nashat is an acclaimed artist whose work spans sculpture, video, and multimedia installations. His practice centers on the human body, exploring themes of desire, mortality, and resilience through a lens that bridges historical techniques and contemporary concerns. Nashat has exhibited internationally at prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He currently resides and works in Los Angeles.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: MASI Lugano
Date: 17.3.2024 – 18.8.2024
Curators: Francesca Benini
Ticket: Available at the front desk of the museum
Informations about the MASI
Piazza Bernardino Luini 6
CH-6900 Lugano
Phone: +41 58 866 42 40
Mail: info@masilugano.ch