One Second Sculpture with Ahtoy

Label

Mika Rottenberg's sculptural installations are loaded with metaphors and allegories, introducing viewers to an idiosyncratic vision of the world. This piece explores the intricate relationship between women and the natural world. The interplay between nature and the female figure has been a long-standing cultural and literary tradition­flowers have historically served as stand-ins for female anatomy. Rottenberg's piece highlights the power of women and nature. The title of the work, One Second Sculpture with Ahtoy, makes reference to the manner
in which the image was captured. Beyond video pieces and installations, Rottenberg's work includes kinetic sculptures that invite active participation from the viewer, as seen through the movement of the subject's hair. The juxtaposition of the plastic container supporting the plant and the woman spewing water creates a parallel between the natural world and labor systems. In pairing the temporality of the scene with the stillness of the image, Rottenberg transforms both the image and the subject into sculptures.

From the 2023 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 112, Social Surrealism and the Exploration of Identity, curated by Paulina Marinkovic Camacho ’23, Levinson Intern

Course History

Art History 40.03, Latin American and Caribbean Studies 20.11, Art and Politics in Latin America, Mary Coffey, Fall 2023

Art History 40.03, Latin American and Caribbean Studies 20.11, Art and Politics in Latin America, Mary Coffey - OPEN HOURS, Fall 2023

Art History 40.03, Latin American and Caribbean Studies 20.11, Art and Politics in Latin America, Mary Coffey - OPEN HOURS, Fall 2023

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 112, Social Surrealism and the Explortion of Identity, Paulina Marinkovic Camacho, ’23, Levinson Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, April 22 - June 24, 2023.

Provenance

Mika Rottenberg, date unknown; Anonymous gift; given to present collection, 2018.

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Subjects