“Underworld” by Mai-Thu Perret was located at the David Kordansky Gallery. The show was on display at 520 West 20th Street and was open to the public from October 25 through December 21, 2024. Perret amalgamates various materials and textures to create intermixed bodies that are a part of uncanny works of human-like figures that have made an impact on her career as an artist. She became known for her complex multi-disciplinary practices encircling different mediums such as sculpture, painting, and installations through combining radical feminist movements with literary texts and 20th-century avant-garde styles.
Underworld by Mai-Thu Perret
Group Members: Olivia Gorski, Samantha Soued, Muniba Sohail, Karina Bravo, Wafa Berri, Damion Kettle
How did completing your project help you explore the role of arts in the lives of New Yorkers and their communities?
Completing this project opened my eyes to the beauty of cultural works of art throughout New York City. Mai-Thu Perret elaborates on her theme of nature throughout the show, creating pieces with abstract shapes to show the imperfect yet intriguing aspects of the outside world. The natural flow of her work is what makes it so fascinating, creating pieces that portray the flow of water, lava, and the movement of animals. The artist completely encapsulates the imperfections yet charm of nature through her manipulation of clay, wood, and lush watercolors, which become a recurring theme throughout the show, reminding viewers that in a world of imagination, there will always be a nurturing, inevitable ground beneath their feet and within their bodies. I was thrilled to write about her work for the STEAM Fest since many of the students who attended had never heard of Mai-Thu Perret or had gotten the opportunity to view her work in person. The overall positive comments from the students at the STEM Fest made me proud to display her pieces, furthering the connection I felt between her show with the rest of the Macaulay community.
