Last Conversation Piece

Last Conversation Piece
Conversation Piece
ArtistJuan Muñoz
Year1994–1995 (1994–1995)
TypeBronze
Dimensions169 cm × 620 cm × 820 cm (66.5 in × 244 in × 321 in)
LocationHirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., United States
Coordinates38°53′16.95″N 77°1′24.42″W / 38.8880417°N 77.0234500°W / 38.8880417; -77.0234500
OwnerSmithsonian Institution

Last Conversation Piece is a public artwork by Spanish sculptor Juan Muñoz in the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC, United States.[1] The piece is currently on loan to The Contemporary Austin.[2]

Description

This sculpture consists of three pieces which display five figures with bulbous bodies (reminiscent of punching bags). Three are huddled together having a conversation, while two are at opposite ends of the space, moving towards the three in conversation. The three figures seem almost violent in their discussion while the two who rush towards them show concern. They are placed on a grassy area of the sculpture garden.[1]

  • Front
    Front
  • Detail
    Detail
  • Label
    Label

Acquisition

The sculpture was originally on display at the Marian Goodman Gallery in New York City up until April 13, 1995. The piece was a museum purchase made the same year and was put on display in March 1996.[3] In 2019, the Hirshhorn loaned the sculpture to The Contemporary Austin. It went on exhibition in November of that year.[2][4]

Information

Last Conversation Piece served as the final in his "conversation piece" series. Muñoz became weary of the series and chose to expand out in styles as a protest of being lumped into a single sculptural genre.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (2008). "Last Conversation Piece, (sculpture)". Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture. Smithsonian. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Juan Muñoz, Last Conversation Piece". The Contemporary Austin. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  3. ^ Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (2007). "Juan Muñoz". Collection. Smithsonian. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Important Sculpture by Juan Muñoz Now at Laguna Gloria". Sightlines. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. ^ Juan Muñoz. Muñoz, Juan and Neal David Benezra. Art Institute of Chicago, University of Chicago Press. 2001. p 47-48.