Cremaster 2: Deseret

Birgit Cullberg, 1999

MEDIUMFour chromogenic prints in acrylic frames; edition number three of three
DIMENSIONSPanels 1 : 69.2 × 59.1 cm (27 1/4 × 23 5/16 in.); panel 2: 69.2 × 84.5 cm (27 1/4 × 33 5/16 in.); panel 3: 69.2 × 191.1 cm (27 1/4 × 75 1/4 in.); panel 4: 69.2 × 59.1 cm (27 1/4 × 23 5/16 in.); installed, framed: 69.2 × 409.6 cm (27 1/4 × 161 5/16 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONContemporary Art
CULTUREUnited States
CREDIT LINEGift of Donna and Howard Stone

Stop to experience a contemplative journey across an expansive, desolate landscape. These four prints, part of a celebrated series, evoke themes of creation and isolation through their stark beauty and muted tones.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

Four chromogenic prints are arranged here, capturing a stark, almost otherworldly landscape. The panels show vast, open spaces, hinting at isolation and a journey across an unforgiving terrain. The muted color palette and the expansive sky contribute to a sense of deep quiet, even spiritual contemplation. This work, titled "Deseret," is part of a larger series that explores themes of creation, mythology, and the body, often drawing on diverse cultural narratives. The images invite viewers to consider the relationship between humanity and nature, and the stories we impose upon the land. The artist, Birgit Cullberg, a Swedish choreographer, created this work in 1999, the year of her death, adding a poignant layer to its reflective quality.

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What to Notice

1

The subtle shift in light across the four panels

2

The vast, empty landscape that dominates the composition

3

The almost monochromatic color scheme

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Audio Deep Dive

Stop to experience a contemplative journey across an expansive, desolate landscape. These four prints, part of a celebrated series, evoke themes of creation an…

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THE ARTIST
Birgit Cullberg 1908–1999 · Sweden

Birgit Cullberg, a pioneering Swedish choreographer, founded the internationally renowned Cullberg Ballet in the 1960s.

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