I about flipped when I read about this show happening. I had been meaning to check out the Drawing Center (35 Wooster St) and it is totally worth visiting. It is free (donations suggested) and the space is great. I studied Unica Zürn as a undergrad and was pretty psyched for the show, as I had not seen most any of it ever.
Most of the drawings were made in the decade before her death (defenestration) while in and out of institutions, but after painting for a bit. The earlier ones are looser/ quicker and the later ones evolve into an elegant ferment.
By anyone else I think they might look like straight noise, but these have this victorian, reptilian poise that is stunning. Layers of eyes and bodies and temples. Or maybe that is what I saw. The nibs are tiny and the ink is thinned but the detail is extraordinary.
There are also some books and photographs accompanying. I enjoyed seeing some annagrammatic letters Zürn wrote to friends. It was also good to see the sponsors/ contributors for the show, as I think they will lead me to more places in the city. For example, I had no knowledge of the Ubu Gallery here. There is a thorough exhibition catalog released by the Drawing Center as well.
images from drawingcenter.org
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