press release

On 27 May, the Saatchi Gallery will open The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture Part 1, an exhibition of 20 leading and emerging international artists working in sculpture today.

This will be the first in a two-part series of exhibitions to explore contemporary sculpture. The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture Part 1 provides an unprecedented look at some of the most exciting sculptural works created in recent years. From granite monoliths to neon structures, buckled cars to stuffed horse hide, the exhibition demonstrates the diversity and dynamism of the medium.

This is the first time that the Saatchi Gallery has presented an exhibition devoted entirely to three dimensional works. Composed, assembled, sewn, nailed, glued, stacked or layered from materials as different as clay, polished metal, fabric, plywood, dirt, horse hide, Styrofoam and found objects, these pieces push the notions of the already expanded field of sculpture. The works here are united in the strength of their formal innovations and force of their engagement with contemporary issues.

Running from the monumental to the miniature, many of the works play with scale creating a disorienting and charged space between viewer and work. Figurative forms, both human and animal, are used as sites of anxiety and instability challenging art historical archetypes to create a rich new sculptural vocabulary.

The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture Part 1 features a selection of works by David Altmejd, John Baldessari, David Batchelor, Peter Buggenhout, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Matthew Brannon, Bjorn Dahlem, Folkert de Jong, Roger Hiorns, Martin Honert, Thomas Houseago, Joanna Malinowska, Kris Martin, Matthew Monahan, Dirk Skreber, Anselm Reyle, Sterling Ruby, David Thorpe, Oscar Tuazon and Rebecca Warren.

In October 2008, the Saatchi Gallery re-opened in the 70,000 sq. ft Duke of York’s HQ building on King’s Road in the heart of London. With free admission to all shows, the Saatchi Gallery aims to bring contemporary art to the widest audience possible. The first two exhibitions, The Revolution Continues: New Art from China and Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East, were ranked as the first and second most visited shows in London in The Art Newspaper’s survey of 2010 attendance figures. The Saatchi Gallery attracted over 1.2 million visitors in its first year since relocating to Chelsea.

The Shape of Things to Come
New Sculpture Part 1

Künstler: David Altmejd, John Baldessari, David Batchelor, Peter Buggenhout, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Matthew Brannon, Björn Dahlem, Folkert de Jong, Roger Hiorns, Martin Honert, Thomas Houseago, Joanna Malinowska, Kris Martin, Matthew Monahan, Dirk Skreber, Anselm Reyle, Sterling Ruby, David Thorpe, Oscar Tuazon, Rebecca Warren