Rebecca Manson: Barbecue

“Rebecca Manson: Barbecue” defies viewers’ expectations of what clay can do by pushing the material to its most fragile and muscular places. Comprised of thousands of individually crafted ceramic leaves, flowers, a barbecue grill, and assorted detritus that swell into piles, this site-responsive installation creates moments for self-reflection.

The immersive work is displayed in the ellipse, the Modern’s oval first-floor gallery, typically reserved for permanent collection works. This exhibition marks Manson’s first solo presentation in a museum.

“Barbecue’s” enveloping foliage juxtaposes sweeping gestures with instances of stillness. As with much of her work, the exhibition suggests a “visceral commonplace,” a term Manson uses to describe her combination of recognizable forms with sophistic and surreal narratives. These dualities, among others, are present in the installation to demonstrate the simultaneous existence of opposing realities.

The exhibition is organized by Assistant Curator Clare Milliken.