old enemy, new victim -2007, by tony matelli

i saw this piece at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and i think it is great. the thing i loved about seeing this piece was that is placed in a room of 18th century statues and paintings. this contrast is really noticed when walking into the room, as it is an overwhelmingly large piece.

it was also exhibited in a New York gallery (Leo Koeing, February 2007). The piece represents the triumph of underdogs. The two chimps are weak and thin, yet they are able to attack the large chimp. Another interpretation could be male attacking a female. My impression was that it was children chimps attacking the parent chimp. Matelli created the piece in response to an eviction and sour relationship with a landlord.

i think this is a great piece, very interesting. i would love to go to New York and see more of his work.









-carina