Elmgreen Dragset Reconstruct Oval Office in New York Exhibition, 'The Balcony Series' Explores Architectural Power
Artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset have unveiled a new exhibition titled 'TRANSITION' at Pace Gallery in New York, featuring a reconstructed Oval Office and 'The Balcony Series'. The Oval Office, fabricated from 36 tonnes of Cor-Ten steel, is presented as a sculpture that strips away traditional power symbols and decorations, focusing on its pure volume. The artists aimed to transform the space, often seen as a center of political power, into an artistic exploration. The exhibition also includes 'The Balcony Series,' which features altered photographs of heads of state waving from balconies. In these works, the figures of leaders are removed, leaving only mirrored silhouettes that reflect the viewer's own visage, emphasizing the architectural structure of the balcony as a 'guilty architecture' that elevates and supports power.