Jimmie Durham
(c)image: Philippe De Gobert
Garçon, Garou, Gargouille, 1994
Sculpture
, 150 x 400 cm
papier maché, pvc pipe, leather
The face of a boy in papier-mâché comes out of a PVC tube. The title of the artwork seems to justify its elements, creating a series of associations: the garçon (boy); the garou (werewolf, an intermediary being capable of transforming itself); and finally the gargouille (gargoyle), an architectural element designed to drain rainwater running down from the side of a building, usually seen in cathedrals in the form of scary creatures.
This piece was first made for the show Architexture, where Jimmie Durham developed a commentary on European architecture, tradition and beliefs, inaugurating his Eurasia project.