Solid Doubts

The Noguchi Musuem in Long Island City, New York, explores the ways in which Robert Stadler and Isamu Noguchi blur the concepts of art, design, functional and aesthetic.

The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City (NY) continues its collaboration with contemporary artists of all disciplines. “Solid Doubts” welcomes the works by category-defying artist Robert Stadler (Austria, b. 1966) that will be installed in tandem with Noguchi’s sculptures, within the ground level galleries and sculpture garden.

<b>Top:</b> Noguchi Museum, “Solid Doubts”, installation view, 2017. <b>Above:</b> from left – Robert Stadler, <i>Cut_Paste
From left: Robert Stadler, <i>Cut_Paste
Clockwise from bottom left: Robert Stadler, <i>Pools and Pouf!</i>, 2004, fabricated in 2017. Upholstered leather, plywood, synthetic textile. Isamu Noguchi, <i>Akari [1N]</i>, 1968, paper, bamboo, metal, electric components. Isamu Noguchi, <i>Floating Lunar</i>, 1945, magnesite, electric components, private collection. Isamu Noguchi, <i>Akari [VB13-S]</i>, 1986, paper, bamboo, metal, electric components
Noguchi Museum, “Solid Doubts”, installation view, 2017
Noguchi Museum, “Solid Doubts”, installation view, 2017
Noguchi Museum, “Solid Doubts”, installation view, 2017
Isamu Noguchi, <i>Floating Lunar</i>, 1945. Magnesite, electric components. Private collection
Left: Isamu Noguchi, <i>Clothes Rack for Martha Graham’s ‘Hérodiade’</i>, 1944, plywood, paint. Robert Stadler, <i>PDT (mirror)</i>, 2015 (fabricated in 2016). Right: Robert Stadler, <i>Rest in Peace

  The exhibition explores ways in which both Robert Stadler and Isamu Noguchi probe — and sometimes undermine — concepts such as ‘art’ and ‘design,’ ‘functional’ and ‘aesthetic,’ ‘material’ and ‘space’. As implied by its title, “Solid Doubts” is intended to make us think anew rather than to make pronouncements. Indeed, ambiguity is central to each of the four installations. Together, they will create a critique of traditional notions of the relationship between furniture and sculpture, among other ideas.


form 26 April to 3 September 2017
Robert Stadler. Solid Doubts
curated by Dakin Hart
Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City
New York