Senga Nengudi

Institute of Contemporary Art Miami

An installation view of a brightly lit gallery space. Two white walls make a corner on our right and a wall of windows extends to our left beyond the frame of the photo. A large sheet of clear bubble wrap, or a stack of sheets, is laid on out the floor like a rug. On the wall behind the stack of bubble wrap is an abstract drawing with some bright orange shapes at center, veiled by a sheet of semi-transparent, blue plastic tacked up in front of it, somewhat messily. Hung horizontally over these two layers is a sheet of clear bubble wrap, pinned at the top so that the excess material hangs down loosely, as would towels on hooks. Above and to the left of this piece is a diagonal figure eight or infinity symbol, drawn directly on the wall in what looks like red pencil and graphite. Installed in the corner on our right is a piece made of wire, plastic, and bubblewrap.

A closer view of the work with blue plastic and clear bubble wrap. An abstract drawing or painting with orange shapes at center in a field of navy blue is veiled by a sheet of semi-transparent, light blue plastic tacked up in front of it, somewhat messily. The blue plastic extends beyond the painting vertically, nearly reaching the floor. Hung horizontally over these two layers is a sheet of clear bubble wrap, pinned at the top so that the excess material hangs down loosely. If the piece were a garment, the place where the bubble wrap is tacked would correspond to its shoulders, and the excess lengths falling in folds would form sleeves. Floating above and to the left of the work is a diagonal figure eight or infinity symbol, drawn directly on the wall in what looks like red pencil and graphite.

Installation view of the gallery with the corner piece made from plastic, wire, and bubble wrap on our left and another piece with garment proportions on our right. In this piece, another abstract drawing or painting is veiled by a semi-transparent, light blue sheet of plastic, and over that, a sheet of clear bubble wrap pinned at the top so that the excess material drapes down like sleeves or towels on hooks. A horizontally-oriented, red infinity symbol drawn directly on the wall hovers, centered, above this assemblage.

A closer view of the work with garment proportions and horizontally-oriented infinity symbol. An abstract painting with brown and blue marks on a light gold or beige background is veiled by a sheet of semi-transparent, light blue plastic, and over that, a sheet of clear bubble wrap. The blue plastic extends beyond the painting vertically, nearly reaching the floor. The bubble wrap extends beyond the painting horizontally, pinned at the top so that the excess material drapes down like sleeves or towels on hooks. A horizontally-oriented infinity symbol drawn directly on the wall in what looks like red pencil and graphite hovers, centered, above this assemblage.

An installation view of a third wall work. A sheet of semi-transparent, light blue plastic wraps around another abstract drawing or painting of hazy dark blue and yellow circles on a brown background. The plastic drapes down at the top to reveal a bit of the drawing or painting's surface. The work is framed at the top by a paper accordion garland whose two ends form star shapes. To its left, a chain or mobile of what appear to be used coffee filters hangs down from the ceiling. Loose strokes of red paint or pencil drawn directly on the wall encircle the assemblage. A black bowl rests on the floor beneath it.

A closer view of the third wall work: a sheet of semi-transparent, light blue plastic wrapped around an abstract drawing or painting of hazy dark blue and yellow circles on a brown background. The plastic drapes down at the top to reveal a bit of the drawing or painting's surface. The work is framed at the top by a paper accordion garland whose two ends form star shapes. Towards the bottom, on our left, the bag has been tacked up to the wall. A black bowl rests on the floor beneath it.

Senga NengudiWet Night — Early Dawn — Scat Chat — Pilgrim’s SongInstitute of Contemporary Art Miami

Exhibition Images

Senga NengudiWet Night — Early Dawn — Scat Chat — Pilgrim’s Song
Institute of Contemporary Art Miami