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| Carl McCrow,Way Out, Black on white paint, lacquered– Decommissioned AK47 of Russian origin. Way Out is a core piece in the AK47 Barcoded series created for the development of a number of works. The use of the barcode has become integral to McCrow’s work and is a reference to the mass production of AK47s; a mind boggling 75 million. Images Courtesy of the Gallery |
Tonight, Thursday, April 30th, 2015 from 6 to 9PM, the Chelsea-based gallery Hoerle-Guggenheim will inaugurate a solo exhibition entitled "History Interrupted, The Art of Disarmament" (On view through May 28th) by the London-based artist Carl McCrow.
The series of works presented in this solo exhibition–and also a U.S. debut– reflect a personal paradox for McCrow, an artist that is both fascinated and repulsed by guns, especially AK-47s which are transformed with underlying powerful statements.
Six years ago, a close friend of the artist lost both legs and arm in an explosion fighting with the Bristish Army in Afghanistan.
Such horrific incident made a profound mark in McCrow's conceptual work and he was resolute and unswerving to use his art as a demonstration for the severity and scope of arms proliferation around the globe.
Bondage to the War Machine, 6,556 spent military rounds
In 1961, President Dwight Eisenhowerfamously warned the world about the "military–industrial complex" in his farewell address. That complex now spends an incomprehensible 1.8 trillion dollars a year on weapons; this is 2.5% of the worlds GDP or more simply, $249 for every person on earth. In recognition to the $249 every person on earth spends on weaponry; 249 assault rifles were destroyed; the last evidence of their existence are the serial numbers fixed to the rear.
Digital Warfare, 2,863 spent military rounds
The weapons industry is investing millions dollars in the games industry every year
Arsenal of Democracy, 8000 spent military rounds
Captain America Comics number 1 issue was in March 1941 and his first act was to go and wallop Hitler. A noble debut to be sure, but this is a time when America is neutral in the war in Europe.Nine months later, in December 1941, America declared itself the ‘arsenal of democracy’ and joined WWII against Germany.
In July 2013, McCrow launched One Less Gun , a charity that aims to destroy 1,000,000 guns in conflict areas across the planet.
At Hoerle-Guggenheim, McCrow will present twenty AK-47s and smalls arms procured directly from areas of conflict, decommissioned and re purposed as conceptual three-dimensional works.
The most recognizable gun in the world has become a metaphorical stand in for power, domination, and the superiority of science and machines.
By harnessing the mainstream fetishization of these weapons, McCrow, translates their gravitas to art through the application of paint, gold leaf, barbed wire and other materials.
Working together with groups including Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Project AK47, War Child, and the International Anti-Poaching Foundation, McCrow's One Less Gun funds the identification and destruction of arms piles.
Viewers inspired by McCrow’s works can contribute to this global effort for disarmament and receive a unique piece of their own, a round of ammunition engraved with the serial number of a gun destroyed for a donation of just $10, the cost of eliminating a single gun.
At the Gallery, visitors will recognize McCrow’s work which has been featured in the new Martin Scorsese-produced British film, Tomorrowwhich is working with One Less Gun to make the film ‘gun neutral, ’a concept conceived by McCrow where violent and war oriented films and video games might positively impact actual violence by destroying one actual gun for each one depicted on screen.
Hoerle-Guggenheim, 527 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011.
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