Artist: Hayley Silverman
Exhibition title: The living watch over the living
Venue: VEDA, Florence, Italy
Date: September 29 – December 1, 2017
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and VEDA
Note: A conversation between Hayley Silverman and Damon Zucconi can be found here
Silverman’s installation consists of a mythic tableau in glass, developed for the unique architecture of the space. Two translucent angel marionettes hang on either side of an illuminated bird in flight, pierced by an arrow. This blown-glass scene floats in front of an abstract landscape painted on the back gallery wall. The work is visible both day and night.
The title and exhibition, The Living Watch Over the Living, advance the artist’s research on technological and spiritual mediums as creative instruments in recording one’s life. Silverman’s secular reading of angels across Abrahamic traditions draws parallels between heavenly observation and pervasive sensing, otherwise known as big data.
Hayley Silverman (b. 1986) lives and works in New York. Her interdisciplinary work in sculpture, photography, and theatre has been exhibited internationally at institutions and venues including MoMA PS1, New York, Sculpture Center, New York; Bodega, New York; Salzburger Kunstverein, Vienna; Liste, Basel; Ellis King, Dublin; New Theatre, Berlin. Writing on her work has appeared in numerous publications including Mousse, Artforum, and Frieze (link to cv).
Hayley Silverman, The living watch over the living, 2017, exhibition view, VEDA, Florence
Hayley Silverman, The living watch over the living, 2017, exhibition view, VEDA, Florence
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Attention is the beginning of devotion, 2017, Blown glass, copper wire, chains wood, watercolors. (L) Figurine, 150 x 45 x 40 cm ; 59 x 17 x 15 inch; Bird figurine, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch; (R) Figurine, 140 x 45 x 40 cm, 55 x 17 x 15 inch; Mural, 300 cm ø, 118 inch ø
Hayley Silverman, Cable bouquet, 2017, Marine optic cable, 51 x 7 x 4 cm, 20 x 3 x 1,5 inch
Hayley Silverman, Cable bouquet, 2017, Marine optic cable, 51 x 7 x 4 cm, 20 x 3 x 1,5 inch
Hayley Silverman, The living watch over the living, 2017, Inkjet print, 83 x 73 cm, 32 x 28 inch
Hayley Silverman, The living watch over the living, 2017, Inkjet print, 83 x 73 cm, 32 x 28 inch
Hayley Silverman, Bird figurine, 2017, Blown glass, 55 x 45 x 13 cm, 21 x 17 x 5 inch
