About the Exhibit - We Are the Baby Gang
Paola Pivi’s exhibit, ‘We are the baby gang,’ was on view at Perrotin’s LES, New York location from April 25th to June 8th, 2019.
I’d previously seen Pivi’s famous feather bears at The Bass Museum in Miami during the 2018 Art Basel, so I was very pleased to be reunited with these happy creatures.
“People act differently around this art, it affords them a freedom that they often left behind as children.” - Justine Ludwig
However, while her art is indeed tactical, whimsical, and free, it often represents far more serious topics such as misrepresentation in media and global warming.
“Pivi seems to have kept explicit environmentalism out of her work, but it is hard to look at these creatures and not feel shades of desperation for the animals’ rapidly disappearing habitat. Even with the artist’s most colorful and exuberant pieces, there are shadows implying sinister depths.” - Vogue (source)
“Seventy baby polar bears frolic, play, fight, nap, and explore the top floor of Perrotin New York. Instead of fur, the bears have sprouted florescent feathers. The polar ice caps are melting. In order to survive a changing climate, they have needed to adapt. They occupy a space between fantasy and reality—frozen in their stances, yet with the impression that they could spring to life at any moment.” (source)
Also, I don’t know how I’ve never seen this before...but Perrotin has shared some stats on their website about the exhibit.
28 people attended the opening.
8723 people attended the exhibition.
The exhibition was open for 31 days.
Daily average of 281 visitors per day including opening, 263 per day excluding opening.
Cool!
About the Artist - Paola Pivi
Paola Pivi was born in Milan, Italy and now lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska (explains the bears and her direct passion/concern for global warming).
“Pivi’s work often has this kind of direct, sensory appeal” - Vogue (source)
“Animals are cast as protagonists in Pivi’s world. She draws upon their perceived characteristics and instills them with human mannerisms.” (source)
Click on the links to see her website and Instagram.
