John Miller
Big Love, 2009
Assorted objects, plaster, paper mache
and imitation gold leaf on panel
182.9 × 127 × 48.3 cm
In 2008 Miller began gilding junk using gold leaf in his wall reliefs and standing sculptures. Gold architectural objects and household items arouse a primal attraction to metallic glimmer; the eye is drawn, magpie-like, to the glinting surfaces. However, upon closer inspection, the gold-covered objects appear cheap and even somewhat apocalyptic. Playing on authenticity and falsity, the works demonstrate Miller’s ambivalence towards capitalism and the value of art in consumer culture.
Exhibitions:
“John Miller, Olaf Breuning, Tony Matelli”, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Mar – Jun 2014
“Co-thinkers”, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow, Jul – Sep 2016
Publications:
Catalogue. “John Miller, Olaf Breuning, Tony Matelli”, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2014.
