Desire

About

On the occasion of Art Basel Miami Beach, Jeffrey Deitch and Larry Gagosian are pleased to present “Desire,” an exhibition curated by Diana Widmaier-Picasso, at the Moore Building in the Miami Design District.

“Desire” explores modern and contemporary approaches to eroticism in art. One of the very earliest and most fundamental artistic themes, eroticism has served to reflect the social mores and cultural values of different civilizations. As the representation of eroticism has evolved in society, boundaries are tested, bringing to life artistic fantasies and unprecedented imagery. Eroticism reinvents itself with every subsequent generation. Today, for example, the promiscuous overexposure of nude bodies on the Internet and television has forever altered the very notion of erotic representation.

Eroticism fuses together opposing and complementary concepts: form and feeling, spirit and body, intellect and emotion. It is at once the most accessible and most challenging subject in art. Its portrayal can be theoretical, abstract, romantic, carnal, or all of these combined. It may be infused with humor, anxiety, or terror. It can be subtle or brash, creating tension between artist, subject and viewer. In modern and contemporary art, eroticism often elicits feelings of unease, in the navigation between the male and female gazes, and between voyeurism and self-exposure. Sometimes, the art that explores eroticism in the least expected way possesses the strongest erotic charge.

“Desire” features the work of more than fifty artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso and Balthus to emerging talents. Joe Coleman, Gaspar Noé, and Tschabalala Self are among those who have created new works specifically for this exhibition. In addition to painting, sculpture, and photography, video installations by Harmony Korine and Jordan Wolfson will be featured.