Rachel Whiteread has a new show at the Gagosian Gallery in London. Known for her ‘negative’ casts, she is best remembered for the sculpture of the inside of an entire Victorian terraced house, which she created on Grove Road in Tower Hamlets during 1993. She is still casting reverse images of buildings but this time it’s garden sheds – in Detached she has taken the humble shed and immortalized it, boards, latches and all.
Detached 1, 2012
Rachel Whiteread, Gagosian Gallery, Mike Bruce
Loom, 2012
Rachel Whiteread, Gagosian Gallery, Mike Bruce
She has created the windows and doors in a lovely rose colour and eau-de-nile, which are made out of translucent, thick resin and propped up against the wall. They are very strong, but at the same time look very fragile – there are also a series of little paper boxes which have been unfolded and painted white, and for the man who has everything there are squashed tin cans which have been cast in silver…
Another wonderful example of her work is always on view on the exterior of the Whitechapel Art Gallery - a golden tree of life which is made up of leaves and branches floating on the facade of the building. Detached runs at the Gagosian on Brittania St in Kings Cross until 25 May.
About Bonnie Alter
