david altmejd

david altmejd burst onto the contemporary art scene seemingly out of nowhere. the young sculptor began
exhibiting at small galleries in his hometown of montréal and then made the move to new york.
since graduating with an mfa from columbia university in 2001, he has participated in a number of high profile
shows in new york and abroad, including the 2003 istanbul biennial and the 2004 whitney biennial.
then, only 6 years after graduating, he was selected to represent canada in the 2007 venice biennale. this made
him one of the youngest artists ever chosen to represent their country in the prestigious exhibit.

cast of characters
the unusual nature of altmejd’s work is perhaps one of the key reasons behind his quick rise to prominence.
figures made from an assortment of plaster, morphed mannequin parts, animal heads, crystals and birds are
his primary subject. he combines these things together to create a fantastical world that plays with the conventions of reality. a dying werewolf with mirrored crystals spouting out of it and a giant’s head filled with tiny rooms like a dollhouse are only some of the scenes depicted in his artwork. his work thus occupies a niche in the contemporary art world which is very much his own.

altmejd has stated that he explores a fantasy world in his work because it serves as a device with which he can put reality into perspective. for example, altmejd very rarely chooses to portray human figures because he believes they are over-explored in art. instead, he depicts mythical creatures like werewolves and giants. while surreal and fantastical, these figures still have many human-like characteristics. this proximity to reality allows viewers to relate to his characters, but there is still enough of a difference to create a weird tension.

symbols and energy
while altmejd’s work has evolved over time, he maintains a clear trajectory. despite variations among his individual projects, his perspective and formal language is evident throughout. but altmejd shies away from the suggestion
that his work has a language, instead he describes his role in making his art more like a curator, combining images and symbols that have ‘meaning potential’ to create an energy. this energy, is what he believes fills his art with meaning. as the viewer is presented with his art, the symbols and their juxtapositions interact to create an energy.

however, while the assortment of images and symbols he selects would hint at an intentional subtext, the artist focuses on undefined narratives. his choices are intentional but the associated meanings are not, he leaves this up to the viewer. unlike most contemporary art, altmejd doesn’t encourage the viewer to decodethe artistic meaning behind his works. he creates work with no intention of communicating a specific idea, much to the chagrin of many critics searching for meaning behind his art. for him, it is more important to create something that is uncontrolled and unresolved.
venice
after successful shows at a number of prestigious galleries and renowned museums, altmejd’s career hit its highest point when he was invited to represent canada at the 2007 venice art biennale. with the eyes of the art world on him, altmejd assembled a multi-faceted installation he titled ‘the index’. this work proved to be a culmination of his young career, resulting in an expansive work that filled the canadian pavilion.

the installation featured two main sculptures, one that features two platforms connected by a mirrored bridge and a second which portrays a decomposing giant sitting against the wall. the first piece is dotted with small details like squirrels, birds, trees and flowers. on top of the platforms stand life-size creatures with human bodies and bird heads featuring testicles hanging under their chins. one of the birdmen sits inside a structure of mirrors while the other two stand like suited fashion mannequins, one of which clutches a decapitated werewolf head. the second sculpture is a reclining giant, who sits on the ground leaning against the wall. his body is in complete decay, with gapping holes all over. inside these cavities, mirrored crystals, mushrooms, birds and wildlife abounds.

from  designboom