nari ward: liberty and orders at lehmann maupin gallery

st. andrews, jamacia-born artist nari ward’s second solo exhibition ‘liberty and orders’ at lehmann maupin gallery. over the past year, ward has gone through the legal process to become a naturalized US citizen. in an effort to fully digest this great change in his national identity, the artist has developed a cathartic study of his experience of this trying process. ‘liberty and orders’ is a detailed portrayal of the artist’s relationship with the law– living in a nation where he feels both security and anxiety towards set authority systems now officially governing his life.through large-scale sculptural works, both free-standing and wall-mounted, ward is able to examine the fine balance of control and freedom he now knows in his new homeland.

‘setting a good corner’, 2012
metal stake, pants pockets, foam and shoes
43 x 38 x 36 inches or 109.2 x 96.5 x 91.4 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

‘homeland sweet homeland’, 2012
cloth, plastic, megaphones, razor wire, feathers, chains, and silver spoons
100 x 64 x 10 inches or 254 x 162.6 x 25.4 cm
in collaboration with the fabric workshop and museum, philadelphia, pa
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

‘t.p. reign bow’, 2012
wood, blue tarp, brass grommets, zippers, human hair, taxidermy fox
224 x 156 x 270 inches or 569 x 396.2 x 685.8 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

‘great reburn’, 2012
plexiglass, aluminum, linen, flag ash, gesso, aluminet shade cloth
60 x 108 inches or 152.4 x 274.3 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

nari ward: liberty and orders
lehmann maupin gallery, new york, USA
on view now until the 21st of april, 2012