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Artist Unearths Spy Secrets at Guggenheim
20 Sep
Summary
- Artist Taryn Simon explores family history and espionage.
- Her largest new work debut is at the iconic Guggenheim Museum.
- The exhibition is based on a decade of correspondence with an agent.
Multidisciplinary artist Taryn Simon has unveiled her largest debut of new work at the Guggenheim Museum. Titled "Father Country I Do Love You," the exhibition is the first monographic show by a photography-based artist in the museum's iconic spiral rotunda.
The decade-long project is based on Simon's extensive correspondence with a retired federal agent. She meticulously investigates systems of information, organization, and power, following tangential and immediate figures connected to espionage, conspiracy, and violence.
Simon's practice is characterized by journalistic rigor and archival methodology. Her previous works include documenting contraband at JFK airport and recreating floral centerpieces from international treaty signings.
The exhibition incorporates elements inspired by her family, including a recreation of her father's den and a dedication to him following his Alzheimer's diagnosis. A final video features recordings of her father's babbling alongside images from his travels.
Simon explores the complexities of reality, where grief and daily life coexist. She challenges herself to embrace messiness and fractured narratives, allowing disparate elements to converge within her work, reflecting life's inherent disorder.
