Black Magic Romance 2020

Kaloust Guedel, born in 1956, created this piece, "Black Magic Romance" out of PVC, metal, and tape. Guedel’s sculptures often blend industrial materials with a sensibility that feels both contemporary and somehow ancient. "Black Magic Romance" has a unique emotional pull. The iridescent black plastic drapes and folds in such a way that we might think of the history of painting, or the history of theater, or even the history of fashion. Think about the use of PVC, a material that wasn’t around until the 20th century. This piece is a modern assemblage that conjures the past. The blackness is heavy, as if weighed down by the weight of history itself. The artist is playing with light and shadow, creating a space that is at once inviting and mysterious. Ultimately, "Black Magic Romance" is a powerful reminder of the ways in which art can help us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.