paola pivi's colorfully feathered bears inhabit galerie perrotin

paola pivi’s colorfully feathered bears inhabit galerie perrotin
paola pivi
‘don’t change my name please’, 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
72 x 221 x 107 cm / 28 1/4 x 87 x 42 1/8 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

paola pivi
galerie perrotin, new york
now through october 26, 2013 

italian artist paola pivi presents the inaugural exhibition ‘ok, you are better than me, so what?’ for galerie perrotin’s new york location, a two-floored collection of sculptures and interactive art pieces. upon entering the gallery, eight giant creatures greet the viewer, posed prancing and romping around the room. the massive animals are life-size sculptures of bears, whose fur takes on a medium of head-to-toe, neon-colored feathers. the foam grizzlies are arranged in various postures, leaping through corridors, tumbling on their backs, and engaging each other in a dance. made from urethane foam, plastic and feathers, the plumed critters called on a canadian taxidermist for their correct proportioning and modeling. with names like ‘mama no more diapers, please’ and ‘who told you white men can jump?’, the vibrant figures are full of personality and their individual quirks and charms lend an amusing tone to the exhibition.

paola pivi
‘don’t change my name please’, (detail) 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
72 x 221 x 107 cm / 28 1/4 x 87 x 42 1/8 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

paola pivi
‘mama no more diapers, please’, 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
122 x 158 x 99 cm / 48 x 62 1/4 x 39 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

paola pivi
‘who told you white men can jump?’, 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
82 x 245 x 132 cm / 32 1/4 x 96 1/2 x 52 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

paola pivi
‘it’s not fair’ (detail) 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
122 x 245 x 64 cm / 48 x 96 1/2 x 25 1/4 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

paola pivi
‘it’s not fair’ (detail) 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
122 x 245 x 64 cm / 48 x 96 1/2 x 25 1/4 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

(left) paola pivi
‘I never danced before’, 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
214 x 90 x 104 cm / 84 1/4 x 35 1/2 x 41 inches

(right) ‘sometimes I have to stand for my safety’, 2013
urethane foam, plastic, feathers
224 x 94 x 97 cm / 88 1/4 x 37 x 38 1/4 inches
photograph by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

view of the exhibition, paola pivi ‘ok, you are better than me, so what?’
galerie perrotin, new york, 18 september – 26 october 2013
photo by guillaume ziccarelli / courtesy galerie perrotin

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