Doug Wheeler

Doug Wheeler’s “SA MI 75 DZ NY 12” installation view via David Zwirner Gallery

The serendipitous grids of New York City where there is at least one of every thing and every one, are imbued with the spirit of infinity. With his first solo gallery show, 72 year-old American artist Doug Wheeler has bestowed the city with a more traditional, yet whimsical portal to infinity called “SA MI 75 DZ NY 12.”

The lobby of David Zwirner Gallery becomes a waiting room as it caps viewers to seven at a time. Patrons shift around a semi circle until called up to remove their shoes and replace them with white medical booties. They form a line against a wall in front of a glowing empty white room and receive a standard set of “do not touch” instructions. Upon entering the room and walking toward the wall, a silent now what? hangs in the air. Hands reaching out to the wall don’t stop, as there is none. The fourth wall is an illusion created by white light that perfectly matches the room. This is the greatest moment of the experience, like Wonderland’s Alice stepping through her mirror. Bewildered, viewers continue to walk, unsure of where the void ends. A vague heat surrounds the area but it’s unclear whether it’s coming from the powerful light or adrenaline. Eyes cease to function, as there is nothing to focus on. It is the same somewhat frightening sensation we can experience in a completely dark space, where there is no difference between opened and closed eyes. But never do we get a chance to experience this with pure white light instead of blackness.

Several feet ahead, there’s a rounded incline, the only indication that the space doesn’t continue on forever. Instinctively, everyone looks back and sees an intricate rig of lights. Though impractical, solitary time for each visitor would make the experience much more powerful.

Doug Wheeler’s “SA MI 75 DZ NY 12” is now on view at David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea until February 25^th.

Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds installation view via Mary Boone Gallery

Chinese artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds installation is now in view at Mary Boone gallery in Chelsea. It is an abbreviated version of the popular installation that debuted in October 2010 at the Turbine Hall in London’s Tate Modern. Five tons, or 100 million porcelain sunflower seeds, hand-painted by artisans in the porcelain-producing city of Jingdezhen, China turned the space into a vast gray sea. Unfortunately it was discovered that walking and playing in the seeds, as was originally allowed and intended, churned up a toxic ceramic and lead dust. Visitors were confined to viewing from a distance, as is now the case at Mary Boone, where 3% of those seeds are on display. Indeed it is a tall task to resist touching the seeds so perfectly arranged into a rectangular rug-like surface, delicately stacked a few inches thick, covering almost the entire floor of the bright wood-beamed gallery.

Weiwei was a young man during the Cultural Revolution in China, when government propaganda depicted Chairman Mao as the sun and his minions as sunflowers leaning lovingly toward him. During this time of poverty and uncertainty, sunflower seeds were a key food source and sharing them was a common gesture of kindness and compassion. Sunflower Seeds is an excellent introduction to the political, poetic, grand yet delicate work of Ai Weiwei.

2011 has been Weiwei’s year, for better or worse. For 81 days in the spring he was detained by Chinese government officials in Beijing amid a broad government crackdown against the Arab Spring-inspired pro-democracy movement, of which Weiwei has emerged the unspoken leader. His detention sparked outrage and action around the world among the human rights and art communities alike. This summer his highly anticipated exhibit Zodiac Heads opened in Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza. At year’s end, Time named him one of four runners-up for "Person of the Year." Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is the recently completed documentary debuting at the Sundance Film Festival next week.

Sunflower Seeds is now at Mary Boone Gallery in Chelsea through February 4th.

Paula Hayes

"Aquarium" 2011, via Lever House Photography: Jesse David Harris

Paula Hayes has turned the lobby of Lever House at Park Avenue and 53rd Street into an aquatic jungle with her new installation Land Mind. The centerpiece is a large womb-like saltwater aquarium atop a wooden platform that houses clownfish, starfish, shrimp, snails, and corals, among others. A water filtration tube snakes out of the orb like an umbilical cord into the surrounding island of tropical perennial plants, all bordered by a metallic silver braid. Complete with full-spectrum lighting, it is an entire balanced ecosystem. A glowing wall-mounted cocoon stretches 15 feet and holds water-retaining succulent plants, rocks, and sea glass. Tropical trees in custom dumpling-shaped rubber planters are scattered about the space. "The rigor of creating the planting vehicles strengthens the message that the interior landscape is to be taken very seriously and cared for with precision." To communicate this message is her ultimate goal, Hayes says.

Hayes crafts the magical world in round, protective, maternal shapes. By designing an environment that contains self-sustaining ecosystems as well as elements that require human nurturing (feeding fish and watering potted plants), Hayes has orchestrated an interactive event that beautifully (and literally) illustrates the possibility of ecological balance in the 21st century.

Land Mind is now on view at Lever House in midtown through January 27th.