The Rape of Europa
by Veronica Gabrielle
This essay appears in Issue 5 of the Mars Review of Books. Visit the MRB store here.
Scratching The Back
a sculpture series by Nairy Baghramian, on view at the Met Fifth Avenue
Look Again: European Paintings 1300–1800
on view at the Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 600–644, ongoing
Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting
on view at the Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 691–693 through June 9
Scratching the Back, a series of sculptures by the Iranian artist Nairy Baghramian, currently inhabits the Met’s entrance niche. The work comprises four statues: various assortments of Corporate Memphis-colored rubble reminiscent of bulk curbside disposal day, complete with what look just like discarded white IKEA Kallax shelf units. Their uncanny resemblance to trash functions as a safeguard for whenever someone speaks the truth: “This looks like shit.”
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