Liminal In Nature
On View Now
Liminality is what one might think of as an intermediate, transitional, or in-between state of being. Deriving from the Latin word “limen,” it roughly translates to a threshold. Something liminal in nature is on the threshold of change – not quite before, not quite after, but a fluid, in-between of its own –existing between two or more points of reference.
All things made of matter—wood, clay, stone, and even the human body—are inherently liminal, and constantly changing, whether it’s immediately noticeable, or shows its transition over a period of time. A liminal space can capture change across various scales, easily detectable by the human eye in some, and understood on a microscopic scale in others. A fluid threshold can create space for physical changes, or psychological ones—or a combination of both. Regardless of what is occurring within a liminal space, the beauty is its inability to be confined to singularity.
Artists working in sculpture often work with materials and formal elements in ways that feel liminal. Sculpture has always had a complicated relationship with its definition, and its artists have leaned into how it restructures and questions boundaries. These artists balance preserving the original form of their materials, while also manipulating and creating anew. Sculpture also challenges the viewer’s placement, forcing us to experience it as a multi-dimensional and multi-faceted object in our world, interacting with our bodies directly. Depending on where we position ourselves, the work “changes,” looking and feeling different as we move. If sculpture relies on a fluid viewing experience, where does it truly end, or begin? How does our physical and psychological movement help us identify, or cast out, parts of ourselves? Is there truly a concrete boundary between “self” and “other”
We understand ourselves best by observing and connecting to our external environment. Humans have a complex history of empathizing with the natural world; as we change, it changes, too. Liminal in Nature allows visitors to channel the intuitive sense of their own bodies, and form personal interrelationships between themselves and the art. The exhibition serves as a reminder that our perceptions, experiences, and identities, are constantly in flux, affecting who we are, and how we interpret not only ourselves and others, but also the natural world.
Liminal in Nature is organized by the Neuberger Museum of Art and curated by Curatorial Assistant Rebecca Elisabeta Marya (Rem) Ribeiro.
Generous support for this exhibition is provided by the Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art.