Adam Lindemann’s new gallery, Venus Over Manhattan, takes its name from the sculpture on the building’s facade at 980 Madison. Featuring two nudes – a female hovering over a reclined male – it is romantic and nostalgic.
The inaugural exhibition is titled “A rebours” translated as “against the grain” from the novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans. A favorite of Oscar Wilde and the decadent poets, it tells the story of an aristocrat who retreats from society to the seclusion of a mountain villa and his prized art collection. Featuring an eclectic mix of work, the show imagines which artworks would entice the novel’s protagonist today.
Industrial aesthetics define the space, bare sheetrock lines the walls, the floors are poured concrete. The room is dark except for spotlights focused on the artwork. A floating wall divided the gallery in two, a large sculpture of twisted black metal by John Chamberlain dominates the main room. There are many pieces by Redon and Moreau with contemporary pieces including works by Lucas Samaras, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Hope Atherton, Glenn Brown and African fetish sculptures.
The most compelling arrangement was a collection of small works hung salon style on the back of a floating wall, isolated from the rest of the exhibit. The wall was well lit and combined works by many of the artists seen throughout the show. There were also two small portraits by Llyn Foulkes and a collection of ephemera entombed in a glass case by the late Dash Snow.
Closes June 30th.
Venus Over Manhattan
980 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
www.venusovermanhattan.com
