Door 1987

Here we see Richard Artschwager's "Door," a silent portal of wood and formica. The door, a fundamental symbol, historically signifies transitions, passages between worlds, and the duality of concealment and revelation. Consider the doors depicted in Renaissance paintings, often framing pivotal moments of annunciation or departure, each an invitation to witness a sacred transformation. Yet, here, Artschwager presents us with a door that leads nowhere, a functional object divorced from its purpose, prompting a deeper look into the psychology of space and expectation. The slight opening, a mere invitation, mirrors the human psyche’s perpetual state of anticipation. The symbolism of the door, once a straightforward marker of entry and exit, evolves into a meditation on potential versus reality, engaging us in a silent dialogue about the thresholds we constantly navigate within our minds.