Daniel Arsham: Sands of Time

A year after Daniel Arsham unveiled his mesmerizing sculpture, "Bronze Eroded Venus de Milo" (2020), as a striking public artwork at Aranya, the acclaimed artist returns with an extraordinary new collection for his inaugural solo exhibition at UCCA Dune. Titled "Daniel Arsham: Sands of Time," this immersive showcase takes place against the backdrop of the natural geological features of UCCA Dune, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore Arsham's fascination with history, relics of the past, and the concept of "fictional archaeology."

Installation View: Daniel Arsham "Sands of Time"

At the heart of Arsham's sculptural practice lies the concept of fictional archaeology—a captivating endeavor that involves presenting objects from the past in a futuristic context. With unprecedented access to molds from Réunion des Musées Nationaux in France, which were originally created for classical Greek and Roman masterpieces housed in esteemed institutions like the Louvre and the Vatican Museums, Arsham has masterfully reimagined these historical sculptures using his trademark materials and style. By casting these works in eroded crystal and bronze, Arsham creates the illusion that they have been unearthed centuries or even millennia into the future, offering viewers a thought-provoking glimpse into an imagined world where the past and the future intersect.

The selection of sculptures on display in "Sands of Time" reflects Arsham's keen appreciation for the unique subterranean setting of the museum, as well as his exploration of the creative possibilities inherent within the space. As visitors navigate the exhibition, they are invited to contemplate the remnants of civilization juxtaposed against the natural landscape and the inexorable passage of time itself.

Installation View: Daniel Arsham "Sands of Time"

The selection of sculptures on display in "Sands of Time" reflects Arsham's keen appreciation for the unique subterranean setting of the museum, as well as his exploration of the creative possibilities inherent within the space. As visitors navigate the exhibition, they are invited to contemplate the remnants of civilization juxtaposed against the natural landscape and the inexorable passage of time itself.

The exhibition's title, "Sands of Time," serves as a poignant reminder of humanity's enduring fascination with the concept of time—a theme that is echoed in the sand that surrounds the sculptures, forming a gradient from white to blue. Among the notable works featured in the exhibition is "Unearthed Bronze Eroded Melpomene" (2021), Arsham's largest bronze sculpture to date. Partially submerged in the sand, this monumental bust of the ancient Greek goddess hints at a hidden world waiting to be discovered beneath the surface.

Installation View: Daniel Arsham "Sands of Time"

Through the surreal displacement of ancient objects and their recontextualization within the museum space, Arsham prompts viewers to reconsider the art historical tradition of unearthing, revising, and conserving works of the past. By inviting viewers to engage with these fictional relics and to imagine the stories behind them, Arsham creates a captivating dialogue between decay and completion—a paradox that resonates powerfully against the backdrop of the coastal dune.

As visitors journey through "Daniel Arsham: Sands of Time," they are invited to embark on a visual odyssey that transcends the boundaries of time and space, leaving them mesmerized by the artist's uncanny ability to blur the lines between past, present, and future.