KABINETT -- Boston's newest and hippest art galleries -- has moved into a large two-level space in the South End's SoWa! The gallery will be re-launching in the new space with an ambitious and wide-ranging new show titled "Killers & Thrillers," opening on January 5th with a Grand Opening Party from 6 -11 pm (as part of SoWa's First Friday).
This show explores two central ideas: The first, is that all art, basically, is an attempt to explain, fend off or accept death; to commemorate, or communicate with, the dead or deities; or to defy death by making something that lives on. And if death is the only fate as certain as taxes, it is equally certain that all of human life springs from a sexual union.
The exhibition features works by more than 50 artists and works from the prehistoric (200 BC) to the present.
Highlights include:
Original concept cover artwork for the sheet music edition of Billy Strayhorn's iconic song "Lush Life," from the collection of Duke Ellington.
An extraordinary collection of improvised shanks assembled by the Warden of Folsom Prison, ca. 1950
Rare etching of Vincent Van Gogh on his Deathbed, by his Doctor Paul Gachet
Monumental Knife and Brass Knuckle sculptures by Philippe Perrin
An ancient Chinese Warring States Bronze Short Sword
Collection of 1943/44 "Practice Bomb" artworks made by US Army Soldier
Limited edition glass human heart sculpture multiple commissioned from artist Ilua Hauk da Silva for Killers & Thrillers exhibition (launch party in February).
Paintings and works on paper by George Grosz, Balthus, Henri Matisse, Kiki Smith, Sergei Eisenstein, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Jan Fris, Sebastian Stoskopff and others.
Prints, Multiples and Photography by Dana Schutz, Paul Gauguin, Man Ray, Robert Longo, Pablo Picasso, John Lennon, Marlene Dumas, Mathew Barney, Marina Abromovic, James Rosenquist, Bruce Weber, Barbara Morgan, Roy Lichtenstein, William Steig, Michael Mazur, Hendrick Goltzius, Jimmy de Sana.
