Focusing on the post-war period of 1948–61 and on the medium of drawing, this exhibition makes connections between artworks from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The central thesis is that during this time draughtsmanship served as the ideal channel for artists seeking to develop a brand-new visual language – a ‘degree zero’ moment. The show drawn from the museum’s collection also considers MoMA’s contributions to this period of history; works featured in its 1954 exhibition of contemporary Japanese calligraphy are displayed alongside American drawings in a similarly calligraphic style. Highlights include a monochromatic abstraction by the Nigerian artist Uche Okeke, acquired by the museum in 2015. Find out more from MoMA’s website.
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Design for Iron Work I (1959), Uche Okeke. © 2019 Uche Okeke, Courtesy Skoto Gallery, NYC
Drawing No. 1 (1958), Hércules Barsotti. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Infinity Nets (1951), Yayoi Kusama. Museum of Modern Art, New York. © 2019 Yayoi Kusama
The Voyage (1956), Sonja Sekula. Museum of Modern Art, New York. © Sonja Sekula Estate
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Demolishing post-war buildings shouldn’t be the default