Barry X Ball: The Shape of Time

Barry X Ball presents “The Shape of Time” at the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore, a survey of the artist’s sculptural practice set in dialogue with the architecture of Andrea Palladio. Curated by Bob Nickas, with the coordination of Carmelo A. Grasso – Director and Institutional Curator of Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore – ETS, the exhibition brings together 23 sculptures, most of them shown publicly for the first time, organised across five groups of works.

The presentation includes portrait sculptures, a group of Buddha sculptures, works from the ongoing Medardo Rosso Project, pieces from the “Masterpieces” series, and early and late works. Across these bodies of work, the exhibition examines the relationship between technological processes and sculptural tradition, combining 3D scanning, virtual modelling, computer-controlled milling and hand carving. Several works draw on historical sources, including Medardo Rosso, Michelangelo and Japanese sculpture, while others engage with questions of faith, material transformation and the dialogue between contemporary sculpture and sacred space. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Marsilio Arte.