- By Kirsten Wasson
- Photo By Paige Petrone
The Julian Wasser show at the Robert Berman Gallery is a sight and a site to behold, presenting work of Marcel Duchamp and photos of the opening night of his first retrospective, alongside iconic pieces that have been “appropriated” by L.A. based artist Gregg Gibbs and others. As Berman said to me, “It’s a show within a show within a show!”
In 1963, Duchamp – a pioneer of the DaDa movement—opened his exhibit at the Pasadena Art Gallery, and young photographer Julian Wasser was assigned to take photos of the reception. With an astute and witty eye, Wasser captures some classic moments of the evening: one shows Al Bengston squeezing Andy Warhol’s smiling face, rendering Warhol a sheepishly baby-ish young man. Never born seen, these vintage photos were discovered by Berman, and the gallery owner points out that “this is a rare opportunity to see a significant moment in California art history.” (And they happen to be for sale.)
Highlighted in the exhibit is a life-size cut-out of Duchamp sitting at a table, playing chess with a nude, as-yet-not famous nineteen-year old Eve Babitz. The presence of their game, set center stage in one room of the gallery, gives viewers the sense that we have wondered in on a private moment. Deliciously layered, this exhibit is full of subtle suggestion–playing with notions of the seer and the seen, past and present, nuanced dimensions of art and life.
Extended until March 26th, “Duchamp in Pasadena Redux” is at the Robert Berman Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Suite B7, Santa Monica, Tuesday –Saturday 11am to 6pm.
