Dead or Alive: Nature Becomes Art
Dead or Alive: Nature Becomes Art was built on themes first presented in the inaugural exhibition at MAD’s new home, Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary, which featured contemporary works created from multiples of ordinary manufactured items. Here, the materials used are entirely natural. Once-living parts of flora and fauna are recombined and rearranged into works of art that address life's transience and the elegance and alarm of the natural world. Dead or Alive showcased the work of over 30 international artists who transform organic materials and objects that were once produced by or are part of living organisms—such as insects, feathers, shells, bones, silkworm cocoons, plant materials, and fur—into intricately crafted installations and sculptures.
Dead or Alive included new site-specific installations and recent work by contemporary artists from around the world, including Jennifer Angus, Nick Cave, Tessa Farmer, Tim Hawkinson, Jochem Hendricks, Damien Hirst, Alastair Mackie, Kate MccGwire, Susie MacMurray, Shen Shaomin, and Levi van Veluw, among others. The exhibition also featured new commissions by Costa Rican artist Lucia Madriz, who created a large-scale, politically charged floor installation made from black beans and rice; German artist Christiane Löhr’s fragile nests of thistle and dandelion silk; American artist Jennifer Angus, known for her architectural interiors covered with thousands of dried insects that are pinned to mimic vintage wallpaper; and Kate MccGwire who built a large cascade of pigeon feathers emanating from one of MAD’s signature glass bands that cut across the gallery ceilings. Chinese artist Shen Shaomin created imaginary animals made from pulverized bones, and internationally renowned installation artist Xu Bing fabricated a shadow version of a 24-foot Song Dynasty painting using only vegetable detritus, weeds, leaves, and roots.
Dead or Alive is made possible in part by American Express. Organized by the Museum’s Chief Curator David McFadden and Curator Lowery Sims with Assistant Curator Elizabeth Edwards Kirrane.
