Carol Bove presents new work by “sculpture’s woman of steel,” as coined by Randy Kennedy in The New York Times. Her new sculptures expand on her investigations of materiality and form.
Characterized by compositions of various types of steel, Bove’s ongoing series of “collage sculptures,” begun in 2016, amalgamates theoretical and art-historical influences across time periods and disciplines. To create these lyrical and abstract assemblages, Bove pairs fabricated tubing that has been crushed and shaped at her studio with found metal scraps and a single highly polished disk. Luminous color is applied to parts of the composition, transforming the steel-more commonly associated with inflexibility and heft-into something that appears malleable and lightweight, like clay, fabric, or crinkled paper.
Bove’s new works are smaller in scale and elaborate on the “collage sculptures,” with more complex forms that twist, fold, and bend into postures that belie their material construction. Bove manipulates steel to varying degrees, rendering gentle folds in some, and extreme, almost anthropomorphic contortions in others. Their contrasting textures-matte, glossy, or rough-create a further sense of visual play, heightening the surface tension throughout.
The publication features a new interview with the artist by Johanna Burton. Published on the occasion of the artist’s solo exhibition at David Zwirner, Hong Kong in 2019, Carol Bove is available in both English only and bilingual English/traditional Chinese editions.
About the Authors
Carol Bove (b. 1971) is known for her assemblages that combine found and made elements. Incorporating a wide range of domestic, industrial, and natural objects, her sculptures, paintings, and prints reveal the poetry of their materials. As the art historian Johanna Burton notes, "Bove brings things together not to nudge associative impulses into free play driven by the unconscious, but rather to conjure a kind of affective tangle that disrupts any singular, historical narrative."
Johanna Burton is the Keith Haring Director and Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the New Museum, New York. Her writing has appeared in journals and publications, including Artforum, Parkett, October, and Texte zur Kunst.
Industry Reviews
"Almost in defiance of the very nature of metal, [Bove's] vividly coloured works evoke crumpled fabric, clay or even paper. Intensely tactile, they teeter between cerebral assemblages, sensual sculpture and sleek design."--Payal Uttam "Prestige"
"Carol Bove's work beguiles and beautifies in material juxtapositions and unexpected nuances at David Zwirner in Hong Kong."--Cara Chen "China Daily"
"Giving an illusion that they are fabric, the sculptures draw the curious into contact to validate their impressions. This is the most iconic feature of her work - presenting a sharp contrast of strength and softness though they are entirely made from metal."--Cara Chen "The Standard"
"Luscious, vibrant shapes that appear like folded silk or rubber, but on closer inspection are stainless steel forms..."--Evelyn Lok "Lifestyle Asia"
"Masterful sculptures"--Alina Cohen "Artsy"
"This syncretism, where spirituality and illusionism suffuse, pervades every aspect of her work."--Aaina Bhargava "South China Morning Post"
