Opening Reception | Monica Bonvicini: Put All Heaven in a Rage

Among the most important artists of her generation, Monica Bonvicini’s evocative and thought-provoking works explore the relationship between architecture, gender, and power. As a strong female voice, Bonvicini’s multifaceted practice addresses issues of institutional critique and the politics of space through a feminist lens. Dry-humored and direct, Bonvicini’s art never refrains from establishing a critical connection with the sites where it is exhibited, the materials that comprise it, and the roles of spectator and creator, while commenting on the conflicting reality of the world today.

Central to the show and the viewer’s first encounter is the architectural installation Buy Me a Mirror. By reflecting the viewer's image, Bonvicini's installation compels individuals to confront their own presence and the social contexts they inhabit, transforming them from observers into active participants / actors. This engagement is further emphasized in works like Gorgeous, where the interplay of voyeurism, narcissism and self-awareness is explored playfully through reflective surfaces that literally stick their tongues out. These elements critically reflect on design ideologies and societal dogmas, prompting a reconsideration of perspectives and the construction of reality. In You to Me, Bonvicini challenges the imagery of handcuffs to explore the tensions of interpersonal relationships and the constraints of societal expectations, further questioning the dynamics of power and control in both private and public spheres.

Highlighting the material realities of labor and the delicate balance between structure and chaos, the artist uses traditional timber 2x4s to recreate the framing of a house, dividing the exhibition space. Bonvicini perpetuates the symbolic nature of the house as a place where identity is constructed, and as a private space which desires and relationships are formed.