The Paradox of Stillness at the Walker Art Center

The Paradox of Stillness at the Walker Art Center

Tom Wesselmann’s work “Bedroom Tit Box” will be on view at the Walker Art Center, Spring, 2021.

Presenting works from the early 20th century to today, The Paradox of Stillness: Art, Object, and Performance examines the notion of stillness as both a performative and visual gesture. This major Walker-organized exhibition features pieces by an international roster of artists testing the boundaries between stillness and motion, mortality and aliveness, the still life and the living picture.

The Paradox of Stillness showcases more than 100 works by some 65 artists, including 15 live performances activated in the Walker’s galleries or public spaces at intervals throughout the presentation. Works on view range from object-based art and pictures that subtly come to life or shift outside the frame to actions staged by live performers that slowly unfold or unexpectedly reappear. Across the exhibition, puppets and automatons dance through space, while burning candles and rotting fruit mark time’s passing.