Robert Longo's 'Death Star' Sculpture Is Made of 40,000 Bullet Casings
To raise awareness on American gun violence.
Widely-recognized for his photorealistic artworks that touch upon socio-political issues, Robert Longo returns with a momentous sculptural installation entitled Death Star for Art Basel 2018. The NYC-based artist’s intent for the piece crafted out of 40,000 bullet casings to raise awareness on American gun violence. Made in collaboration with Metro Pictures and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, the artwork is suspended by from black beams and installed inside a grey room. Light fixtures, affixed to the beams, are pointed at the piece to give its outer rim a glowing aura.
“This piece is not so much about shock and awe,” said Longo to Artnet. “It’s more about creating some kind of beauty out of something that’s quite horrible, and at the same time hoping that it will make you personally [think], ‘What am I going to do about this [the gun problem]?’”
View Death Star above and check it out in person at the Unlimited section at Art Basel 2018 starting June 14 up until June 17.
Messe Basel
Messeplatz 10
4005 Basel
Switzerland
