Gorgeous - Exhibitions - Asian Art Museum

What’s “gorgeous” to you? There’s often a fine line between attraction and repulsion, but this summer at the Asian Art Museum, we’re drawing no lines at all.

Gorgeous presents 72 uniquely stunning artworks drawn from the collections of the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Spanning over 2,200 years and dozens of cultures, these artworks are organized in an attempt to shift the focus from historical and cultural contexts, emphasizing instead the unique ways each work announces itself or solicits a viewer’s attention. Left to your own devices, you may gravitate toward the strange or the familiar. Some artworks may be beautiful to you; others, bizarre and challenging. Some may be all three. Whatever they are, your reactions to the show will be unique. And that’s what interests us. As Allison Harding, co-curator of Gorgeous, puts it, “This isn’t about what the museum thinks. This is about what you think.”

We’ve blended paintings, sculptures, objects of high design or decoration and photographs. Artists like Marcel Duchamp and Marilyn Minter mingle with works that span the extent of Asia, including a 1,000 year-old Indian sculpture of the Hindu deity Durga victorious over a buffalo demon. Across from a Picasso, you might spot a decorated Qur’an from 16th-century Persia or an arresting photograph by Sally Mann.

Come take a look. What draws you in? What pushes you away? Take a moment to consider what’s “gorgeous” to you. We think you’ll be surprised.

Artwork Highlights

Walking through the Gorgeous galleries, you’ll notice we’ve done things a little differently this time around. Rather than a historical organization, our curators have arranged the show into fluid “groupings” that provide potential associative links. Most of the artworks could be placed in more than one category, and the arrangements we’ve selected represent only a few of many possibilities.

With Gorgeous, we’re moving away from the more traditional predetermined museum experience and proposing a unique opportunity for dialogue. According to Forrest McGill, co-curator of Gorgeous, even among curators there’s been, “a very lively set of conversations and debate while developing the show.”

You’re sure to have some ideas of your own, and that’s exactly the point. In the slideshow above, you’ll find images of artwork from our curators’ groupings: Seduction, Dress Up, Pose, In Bounds, Danger, Beyond Imperfection, Reiteration, Fantasy, Evocation and On Reflection.

Take a look at the slideshow and ask yourself, which piece might belong to which category? After you’ve come up with an answer, visit the museum to find out whether or not we agree!

View Gallery

26 Photos

Gorgeous

SFMOMA. Strut, 2004–2005, by Marilyn Minter (1948). Enamel on metal. Collection SFMOMA, Accessions Committee Fund purchase: gift of Johanna and Thomas Baruch, Charles J. Betlach II, Shawn and Brook Byers, Nancy and Steven Oliver, and Prentice and Paul Sack, 2005.187. Courtesy of the artist, SFMOMA, and Salon 94, New York, EX 2014.1.22.

Elephant seat (howdah), approx. 1870–1920. India. Partially gilded and painted silver over wood, with velvet and wicker. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, Acquisition made possible by Nancy B. Hamon in honor of Johnson S. Bogart, 2001.12.a-.c..

SFMOMA. Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988, by Jeff Koons (1955). Ceramic, glaze, and paint. Collection SFMOMA, Purchase through the Marian and Bernard Messenger Fund and restricted funds, 91.1. © Jeff Koons, EX 2014.1.15.

SFMOMA. Jessie at 5, 1987, by Sally Mann (1957). Gelatin silver print. Collection SFMOMA, Purchase, 89.13. © Sally Mann. Courtesy of Gagosian Gallery., EX 2014.1.18.

Torso of a female deity (detail), 1400–1600. Southern India. Stone. Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B63S3+. © Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.

Ceremonial alms bowl with stand, approx. 1850–1950. Burma. Lacquered and gilded bamboo, wood and ferrous metal with mirrored and nonmirrored glass. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, Gift from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Southeast Asian Art Collection, 2006.27.107.a-.e..

SFMOMA. Coke Spoon 02, from the Indulgent series, 2005, by TobiasWong (Canadian, 1974– 2010) and Ju$t Another Rich Kid (Established 2002, New York, New York). Bronze and gold. Collection SFMOMA, Gift of CITIZEN:Citizen, 2007.75. © Estate of Tobias Wong and Ju$t Another Rich Kid.

Torso of a female deity, 1400–1600. Southern India. Stone. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B63S3+.

SFMOMA. Laughing Nude, 1998, by John Currin (1962). Oil on linen. Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan, fractional and promised gift to SFMOMA, 99.114. © John Currin. Courtesy of Gagosian Gallery, EX 2014.1.4.

Three types of beauties in Edo, approx. 1798–1829, by Chobunsai Eishi (1756– 1829). From a set of three hanging scrolls; ink and colors on silk. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60D80.

SFMOMA. Gorjus, 1989, by Sally Mann (1951). Gelatin silver print. Collection SFMOMA, Accessions Committee Fund purchase, 91.317. © Sally Mann. Courtesy of Gagosian Gallery, EX 2014.1.19.

Mythical bird-man, approx. 1775–1850. Central Thailand. Wood with remnants of lacquer, gilding, and mirrored glass inlay. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, Gift from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Southeast Asian Art Collection, 2006.27.24.

Ewer with lid, approx. 1050–1150. Korea. Stoneware with celadon glaze. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P123+.a-.b..

Summer gatherings in mountain villas, 1738, by Hua Yan (1682–1756). From a set of twelve hanging scrolls; ink on gold-surfaced paper. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, Museum purchase, B74D5–B74D10.

Summer gatherings in mountain villas, 1738, by Hua Yan (1682–1756). From a set of twelve hanging scrolls; ink on gold-surfaced paper. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, Museum purchase, B74D11–B74D16.

SFMOMA. Diving Board, Salton Sea, 1983, by Richard Misrach. Chromogenic print. Collection SFMOMA, Gift of Dr. Paul Getz, 95.921. © Richard Misrach, Courtesy of Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, EX 2014.1.24.

The beach at Miho and Mt. Fuji, 1666, by Kano Tan’yu (1602–1674). From a pair of six-panel folding screens, ink, colors, and gold on paper. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B63D7.a.

SFMOMA. Phebo, 2004, by Beatriz Milhazes (b. 1960). Acrylic on canvas. Private collection, fractional purchase through gift and promised gift to SFMOMA. The Artist / Courtesy James Cohan Gallery, New York/Shanghai, 2005.186.

Headcloth, 1900–1960. Southern Philippines; Sulu Archipelago, Tausug people. Tapestry weave silk. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, 1993.25.

SFMOMA. Spiegel, blutrot (Blood Red Mirror), 1991, by Gerhard Richter (1932). Oil on glass. Collection SFMOMA, Purchase through a gift of the Clinton Walker Fund, in recognition of the appointment of David Ross as the Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Accessions Committee Fund: gift of Shawn and Brook Byers, Doris and Donald G. Fisher, Mimi and Peter Haas, Patricia and Raoul Kennedy, Vicki and Kent Logan, Leanne B. Roberts, Helen and Charles Schwab, Norah and Norman Stone, Judy and John Webb, and Pat and Bill Wilson,98.203, EX 2014.1.31.

SFMOMA. "Untitled” (Golden), 1995, by Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957–1996). Strands of beads and hanging device. Collection SFMOMA, through prior gifts of J. D. Zellerbach, Gardner Dailey, and an anonymous donor; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, through prior gift of Solomon R. Guggenheim; and the Art Institute of Chicago, through prior gift of Adeline Yates; partial gift of Andrea Rosen in honor of Felix Gonzalez-Torres, 2008.109. © The Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation. Courtesy of Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, EX 2014.1.10.

The Buddhist deity Simhavaktra Dakini. China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736–1795). Dry lacquer inlaid with semiprecious stones. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60S600.

SFMOMA. Self-Portrait, 1991, by Jeff Koons (1955). Marble. Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan, fractional and promised gift to SFMOMA, 97.769. © Jeff Koons, EX 2014.1.16.

SFMOMA. Chemical and Biological Weapons Proving Ground/Dugway, UT/Distance ~42 miles/10:51 am, 2006, 2006, by Trevor Paglen (1974). Chromogenic print. Collection SFMOMA, Anonymous Fund purchase, 2007.115., EX 2014.1.29.

Qur’an, approx. 1550. Iran; Shiraz. Gold and colors on paper; binding of leather, lacquer, gold, and color. Courtesy of Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B76D12.

SFMOMA. Narkissos, 1976–1991, by Jess. 1923–2004. Graphite on paper and paste-up. Collection SFMOMA, purchase through the gifts of Phyllis Wattis, Elaine McKeon, Judy & John Webb, Bobbie & Michael Wilsey, Jean & Jim Douglas, Susan & Robert Green, Pat & Bill Wilson, and the Accessions Committee Fund: gift of Frances & John Bowes, Shawn & Brook Byers, Emily L. Carroll & Thomas W. Weisel, Doris &Donald Fisher, Diane & Scott Heldfond, Maria Monet Markowitz & Jerome Markowitz, and the Modern Art Council, 96.492. © 2014 by the Jess Collins Trust and reproduced with permission.