Love Sac, 2009, mixed media, 30” x 26” x 27”.
Photo courtesy Dara Schaefer for BoxoFFICE Projects.
This fall BoxoFFICE Projects is presenting an exhibition of sculptural works by Randy Polumbo. His assortment of phallic and erotic elements combined with commercial luxury goods, results in a provoking show that comments on and re-contextualizes the roles of sex and sexuality in our modern world.
Primarily composed of lead crystal and blown glass, each of Polumbo’s works is illuminated with LED light bulbs and powered by solar panels. The most prominent sculptures include three lead crystal molds of the famous Hermès Birkin bag, that explode with blown glass phallic forms and sex toys of various shapes and sizes, appropriately titled Love Sac. Another piece, Dairy Case, features glowing lead crystal bottle nipples, all neatly packed in a vintage Louis Vuitton briefcase. The warm light pulsing through the sculptures bestows them with a sense of life and warmth that you would not expect from a lead crystal and blown glass structure. The light lends them an organic glow and veritable tactility. You desperately want to touch the various protrusions in order to convince yourself of their suppleness. Polumbo’s sculptures succeed formally and also invite the viewer to interact with the pieces in a sensual way.
But what does it all mean? The combination of these highly charged objects that often act as symbols in our society begs a dialogue to discuss their re-contextualized meaning. “I am interested in powerful, fetished objects,” says the artist “they are a symbol of what people think is important”. In particular, Polumbo’s sculptures can be seen as a representation of and comment on sexual self-sustenance. We see a successful, wealthy and privileged female as the owner of the Birkin bag. Not only does she fit the mold of society’s perfect female, but now, with her Love Sac and plethora of sexual instruments, she does not even need a man to satisfy her. Our modern world allows and enables her to be completely self-sufficient without the need of human companionship. Similarly, the nipple-filled Louis Vuitton Dairy Case neatly packs both sustenance and comfort into the every-day man’s briefcase for portable physical and psychological nourishment. Juxtaposing luxury items and sexual objects also evokes a discourse that implies wealth can buy sexual satisfaction. What are the roles that sexual satisfaction and conspicuous consumption play in the modern life? Do either of those contribute to a full, happy and complete life? How much are people willing to pay for it? At the BoxoFFICe Projects, $50 per inch is the going rate for Polumbo’s assorted, phallic Satellites of Love as stated in their price list.
Photo courtesy Dara Schaefer for BoxoFFICE Projects.
Among other pieces in Satellite of Love is one of the many “Techno Organic Blossoms” Polumbo has created. The self-contained Buttercup features both pestles and stamens, made respectively of casts of hotdogs skins and bottle nipples as well as solar panels for the petals. On the opposite wall of Buttercup and following the flower motif is a small 1.5-inch round screen built into the wall entitled Wallflower. The video, which shows an ejaculating penis through a kaleidoscope not only escapes your attention at first, much like the typical “wallflower”, but also serves to disarm the phallus as a power symbol.
Ultimately, Polumbo re-contextualizes and gives new meaning to sexual, especially phallic forms through his artwork. He inspires the viewer to investigate these forms further in order to see them as symbols for deeper and more complicated ideas about gender, sexuality and self-sustenance, rather than as a purely sexual reference and tool. Satellite of Love embodies the ideal art exhibition—visually and sensually appealing and intellectually provoking. It challenges viewers to open their minds and alter their perceptions and succeeds in raising a myriad of questions in an endless discourse of implications.
“Randy Polumbo: Satellite of Love” runs through December 19th
BoxoFFICE PROJECTS
421 Hudson Street #701
Take the 1 train to Houston St or the A,B,D,C,E,F
or V trains to West 4thStreet
Gallery Hours: Fri and Sat 12-6pm and by appointment
Gallery website: www.boxofficeprojects.com
Artist website: www.polumbo.com