{"product_id":"sam-durant-ask-us-what-we-want-monumental","title":"Sam Durant 'Ask Us What WE Want' (Monumental)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sam Durant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ask Us What WE Want \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Installation (Electric Sign with Vinyl Text)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 62 × 93 1\/2 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2008\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes: \u003c\/strong\u003eEdition 2 of 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paula Cooper Gallery, New York; Acquired by the present owner from the above in 2008.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Los Angeles, Blum \u0026amp; Poe, Sam Durant, This Is Freedom?, April - May 2009.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eThis work is in very good and sound condition overall. All elements are present and stable. The electrical component is in working order. There are scattered surface accretions, including a few small scuffs in the lower left quadrant, visible upon close inspection. There is some very faint surface dust, visible upon close inspection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSam Durant’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAsk Us What We Want\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e originates in an archival image of an Aboriginal rights demonstration held in Sydney in 1972. Durant’s practice begins with historic photographs of protests and demonstrations, which he meticulously recreates as graphite drawings he calls “index” works. From these images, he isolates individual messages handwritten on protesters’ placards and translates them into monumental illuminated signs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this case, viewers are encountering the words \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“ASK US WHAT WE WANT”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e exactly as they appeared on a hand-lettered sign carried by an Aboriginal protester in the 1972 demonstration. Durant preserves the irregular, handwritten character of the original lettering while radically changing its context and scale. A temporary cardboard protest sign intended for the street becomes an illuminated commercial-style display, giving the anonymous protester’s words a new permanence and public presence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe related 2009 graphite drawing, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAborigine Rights Demonstration, Sydney, 1972 (index) (Ask Us What We Want)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, reveals the historical source of the illuminated work and shows the protester carrying the original placard. Together, the drawing and sign demonstrate Durant’s method of extracting language from the historical record and asking the viewer to reconsider who is speaking, who is being heard, and how political messages change when removed from their original moment and presented as art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"End To End Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48298551017659,"sku":null,"price":35000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0038\/9660\/6829\/files\/236977916_1_x.webp?v=1787779792","url":"https:\/\/endtoendgallery.com\/products\/sam-durant-ask-us-what-we-want-monumental","provider":"End To End Gallery ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}