Young Man
2012
Solid stainless steel
180.3 x 53.3 x 34.3 cm (71 x 21 x 13 1/2 in.)
A naked man stands up straight, in a static position. Bearded and with long hair, his youth is that of today and de facto moves away from the classic canon, which advocates a smooth face, with minimal hair, still visible here: fascinated by the ancient Kouros figure, the statue of the young man from the Archaic period of Greek sculpture, Charles Ray reproduces its essence in this smooth stainless steel sculpture.
First shaped in clay, Ray’s Young Man reinterprets certain characteristics of ancient figures, combining them with the posture and physiognomic details of the friend who poses for him. By trying to elicit a feeling of intimacy between this sculpted man and the viewer, this becomes, in the artist’s words, a portrait as well as an abstraction.
Charles Ray’s sculpture Young Man is part of the Pinault Collection. It was first shown at the 2016 “Accrochage” ("Hanging") exhibition at the Punta della Dogana.
First shaped in clay, Ray’s Young Man reinterprets certain characteristics of ancient figures, combining them with the posture and physiognomic details of the friend who poses for him. By trying to elicit a feeling of intimacy between this sculpted man and the viewer, this becomes, in the artist’s words, a portrait as well as an abstraction.
Charles Ray’s sculpture Young Man is part of the Pinault Collection. It was first shown at the 2016 “Accrochage” ("Hanging") exhibition at the Punta della Dogana.
Exhibitions
© Charles Ray, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
