New Macho
17’ x 14’ x 6’
Wood, caulk, steel, straw, vines
2015
2015 Artist Intern
Artist Statement
New Macho is a sculpture rooted within a art historical context. There is a well documented tradition of depicting the male form throughout many time periods and cultures. Male fertility statues can be found in numerous civilizations and the nude depictions of warriors and heroes is commonplace in Renaissance sculptures. My sculpture draws on the aesthetic and historical context of these traditions. New Macho’s simplified form was influenced byHerman Makkink’s piece Rocking Machine and Constantin Brâncuși’s work Princess X and Torso of a Young Man. The color, materiality, and playfulness take notes from Franz West’s piece Flause. New Macho aims to honor the artistic tradition from which it came but also take issue with and encourage conversations about contemporary issues.
John R. G. McMenamin
Born: Chicago, IL, USA, 1991
Resides: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Education
BFA, Fordham University, 2013