Didier William Goes 'Beyond the Bodies' Edge' at Altman Siegel
Mixed-media works that reveal more than meets the eye.
As San Francisco buzzes with the energy of FOG Design+Art, Altman Siegel presents Beyond the Bodies’ Edge, a new solo exhibition of mixed-media works by Didier William. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and now based in Philadelphia, William expands on his Gesture to Home installation at Prospect New Orleans, exploring the precarious sense of belonging that undergirds the immigrant experience. Across a series of vibrant and verdant scenes, the artist asks: “What systems, codes, or traditions define cultural identity on foreign land?”
Autobiographical lore collides with ancestral narratives in this space, as each piece confronts an uncertain future with vulnerability and strength in equal parts. In “Tandem,” a fragile swing struggles to bear the weight of two writhing creatures, evoking themes of tension and interdependence. Meanwhile, in “Susan’s,” the gentle droop of a flower meets the powerful expanse of the field.
William approaches painting not as a “static constant,” but as an ever-evolving process that unfolds gradually through repeated acts of looking, inviting and rewarding close inspection. Shadowy and titanic musculature reveals itself as a swarm of eyes, creating an interplay between individual and collective perspective.
“The entire world, all its pain and beauty, penetrates the mind through this relatively small and fragile ocular device – but vision is also arguably our most reliable defense,” the gallery wrote in a recent statement.
The exhibition is now on view until February 22, 2025.
Altman Siegel Gallery
1150 25th St,
San Francisco, CA 94107
