On November 10th, Luxembourg + Co., New York, will open Observatory: Artists Looking at Space, a survey exploring space as an image as well as a symbol in the course of the last century –most notably within the contexts of Surrealism, Spatialism, and the Southern Californian Light and Space movement.
A hard scientific fact, or a figment of our imagination? Outer space has bound science and art since the beginning of history, often as a site of inquiry during times of political distress, technological leaps, or existential crises. The display includes works by Sanford Biggers, Alexander Calder, Gino De Dominicis, Max Ernst, Sylvie Fleury, Lucio Fontana, Sue Fuller, Joan Miró, Isamu Noguchi, Joe Ray and Mario Schifano.
“Observatory” works as an extension of a parallel project currently on display at Luxembourg + Co., London, which is dedicated to the life and work of Los Angeles artist Joe Ray (b.1944). In his practice, making space is at once a condition of meaningful artistic activity, and a means for social change.