Ugo Rondinone: the sun and the moon
May 20 – November 13, 2023
the sun (2018) and the moon (2021), two works by New York–based Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone (b. 1964), are formed with delicate circles fashioned from cast-bronze tree branches, one silver-leafed and the other gilded. The twin sculptures are both over sixteen feet tall. Installed parallel to one another, the sun and the moon are aligned along an east-west axis, like portals or apertures with views of Schunnemunk and Storm King Mountains.
The natural world has held a place of great importance for Rondinone’s artistic practice across several decades. The artist has said, “In the midst of the AIDS crisis in 1989 and after my partner Manfred Welser died of AIDS related illness, I turned away from grief and found a spiritual roadmap for solace, regeneration, and inspiration in nature. In nature, you enter a space where the sacred and profane, the mystical and the mundane, vibrate against one another.” By situating the sun and the moon in Storm King’s landscape, the connections between these works and nature are further underscored by the real-life rising and setting of their titular celestial bodies.
About this presentation, Rondinone has said, “the exhibition is built upon the principles of two celestial forces from the natural world: the sun and the moon. Like the cycle of day and night, these two archetypes represent contradictory, codependent and complementary values. We can think of the sun and the moon as our metaphorical eyes. When the two principles marry, visions become binocular; that is; two visionary bodies of being integrate into one mysterious whole. Based on each one’s unique vision, the sun and the moon bring in different information that contributes to the vision guiding this exhibition and our own wild life.”
These two sculptures are accompanied by two interactive artworks, your age and my age and the age of the sun (2013–ongoing) and your age and my age and the age of the moon ( 2020–ongoing), on view in the Museum Building through August 7th.
Ugo Rondinone: the sun and the moon is organized by Nora Lawrence, Artistic Director and Chief Curator.
Storm King’s 2023 Exhibitions and Education programs are made possible with major support from the Hearst Foundations and the Speyer Family Foundation, with lead support by Charina Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, with support also provided by Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, The William and Elaine Kaplan Family Foundation, Ronald and Sandra Kossar, Lipman Family Foundation, Ohnell Family Foundation, Windgate Foundation, and funded in part by The Helis Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art and Triad Foundation.
Storm King’s 2023 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The natural world has held a place of great importance for Rondinone’s artistic practice across several decades. The artist has said, “In the midst of the AIDS crisis in 1989 and after my partner Manfred Welser died of AIDS related illness, I turned away from grief and found a spiritual roadmap for solace, regeneration, and inspiration in nature. In nature, you enter a space where the sacred and profane, the mystical and the mundane, vibrate against one another.” By situating the sun and the moon in Storm King’s landscape, the connections between these works and nature are further underscored by the real-life rising and setting of their titular celestial bodies.
About this presentation, Rondinone has said, “the exhibition is built upon the principles of two celestial forces from the natural world: the sun and the moon. Like the cycle of day and night, these two archetypes represent contradictory, codependent and complementary values. We can think of the sun and the moon as our metaphorical eyes. When the two principles marry, visions become binocular; that is; two visionary bodies of being integrate into one mysterious whole. Based on each one’s unique vision, the sun and the moon bring in different information that contributes to the vision guiding this exhibition and our own wild life.”
These two sculptures are accompanied by two interactive artworks, your age and my age and the age of the sun (2013–ongoing) and your age and my age and the age of the moon ( 2020–ongoing), on view in the Museum Building through August 7th.
Ugo Rondinone: the sun and the moon is organized by Nora Lawrence, Artistic Director and Chief Curator.
Storm King’s 2023 Exhibitions and Education programs are made possible with major support from the Hearst Foundations and the Speyer Family Foundation, with lead support by Charina Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, with support also provided by Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, The William and Elaine Kaplan Family Foundation, Ronald and Sandra Kossar, Lipman Family Foundation, Ohnell Family Foundation, Windgate Foundation, and funded in part by The Helis Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art and Triad Foundation.
Storm King’s 2023 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Artworks
the moon, 2021
the sun, 2018
your age and my age and the age of the moon, (2020-ongoing)
your age and my age and the age of the sun, (2013-ongoing)