Obituary

More about the book

The works of inventive young Swiss artist Shahryar Nashat pose questionsabout part of the museum experience thats rarely considered - the display itself.Whether he's using photography to focus on the plinth supporting an Renaissancesculpture (and chopping off the sculpture itself at ankle or knee), or incongruouslypairing a stuntman-gymnast with Baroque frescoes in the Louvre, Nashat hasplenty to say about painterly virtuosity, artistic patronage and the artificiality ofart exhibitions. ''The pedestal base plates ... in which elegant and erotic rodsof brass have been embedded themselves represent the object of desire,'' writescurator Kathleen Rahn. This artist's book based on Nashats first German soloexhibition includes video installations, sculpture, etchings and photographs.