NUDE, #1 (MY ALBERS)
2010
wood board and the word "white" in silicone in 9 languages
31 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches

Speaking of her use of text, Yael Kanareck says, “English, Arabic, and Hebrew make up the semantic landscape of my childhood.” Perhaps not surprisingly, then, the artist has used many languages in creating complexly layered work that often is a literal fusion of words and meanings. Here Kanareck uses the word white in nine languages to create a provocative meditation on different shades of white, and how flexible the word “white” can be in describing the charged idea of skin color. The form of this densely crafted work is based on the comparative color squares of Josef Albers, acknowledged as one of the 20th century greatest exponents of color, further adding to the multiplicity of Kanarek’s informed references. Though born in New York, Kanareck was raised in Israel, and her work conveys the complex experiences of a person caught between cultures. Kanareck’s work was included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial, and she has exhibited at The Jewish Museum, The Drawing Center, and the American Museum of the Moving Image, among others.

estimated retail value:  $10,000

opening bid:  $6,500

SOLD

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