Between the Waters

Mar 9–July 22, 2018

Painting of person with fin.
Painting of person with fin.

Cy Gavin, Aubade II (Spittal Pond), 2016. Acrylic, chalk and oil  on denim, 57 × 118in. (144.8 × 299.7 cm). Collection of Nick Cave, image courtesy of Sargent's Daughters

This exhibition brings together artists from across the United States—Carolina Caycedo, Demian DinéYazhi´ with Ginger Dunnill, Torkwase Dyson, Cy Gavin, Lena Henke, and Erin Jane Nelson—whose work responds to the precarious state of the environment through a personal lens. Experimenting with form and narrative in painting, video, and sculpture, these artists address how ideology—as much as technology, industry, and architecture—impacts all living things.

Though each contends with facts or histories that are real and observable, none takes a documentary approach. Rather, these artists adopt a highly subjective position, embracing emotion, intuition, spirituality, and myth to help understand our intrinsic place within the “natural” world. They share the sense that scientific, or “rational,” thought can reinforce a limited view of our planet and its inhabitants—one that assumes they can and should be controlled.

The works on view present a wide range of subjects, from the controversial transformation of New York in the mid-twentieth century by city official Robert Moses to the affirmation of a vital Indigenous presence in the face of institutionalized colonialism. They draw from distinct visual traditions, including Southern handcraft, sixteenth-century architecture, history painting, and hard-edge abstraction. Through their varied interests and formal approaches, all of these artists assert the relevance of individual experience and perspective to address concerns that are global in scale and effect. In the words of artist Torkwase Dyson, this exhibition is not just about “the way we connect...but understanding also the waters that are between us.”

The exhibition is organized by Elisabeth Sherman, assistant curator, and Margaret Kross, curatorial assistant.

Major support for Between the Waters is provided by John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation.

This exhibition is part of the Whitney’s emerging artists program, sponsored by

Generous support is provided by Jackson Tang.

Artworks

Fishing net sculpture.

1

Carolina Caycedo

b. 1978; London, United Kingdom
Hanging printed artwork.

2

Erin Jane Nelson

b. 1989; Atlanta, GA
Painting of a figure in colorful landscape.

3

Cy Gavin

b. 1985; Pittsburgh, PA
Bronze sculpture.

4

Lena Henke

b. 1982; Warburg, Germany
Video still.

5

Demian DinéYazhi´

b. 1983; Gallup, NM
Black and white abstract image.

6

Torkwase Dyson

b. 1973; Chicago, IL

Artists

Perspectives

Explore works from this exhibition
in the Whitney's collection

View 4 works

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

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