The Ominous Glut
Artist
Fred Wilson
(American, born 1954)
Date2006
MediumBlown glass, plate glass, and cardboard globe
DimensionsAssembled: 71 × 74 × 101 inches (180.34 × 187.96 × 256.54 cm)
A: 20 3/4 × 5 5/8 × 3 inches (52.71 × 14.29 × 7.62 cm)
B: 23 × 4 5/8 × 3 inches (58.42 × 11.75 × 7.62 cm)
C: 15 1/2 × 4 3/8 × 3 1/8 inches (39.37 × 11.11 × 7.94 cm)
D: 7 1/2 × 8 3/4 inches (19.05 × 22.23 cm)
E: 26 1/4 × 66 5/8 inches (66.68 × 169.23 cm)
F: 47 5/8 × 74 3/8 inches (120.97 × 188.91 cm)
G: 9 × 8 1/4 inches (22.86 × 20.96 cm)
H: 10 inches (25.4 cm)
I: 1 1/2 × 6 7/8 inches (3.81 × 17.46 cm)
J: 2 1/4 × 11 5/8 inches (5.72 × 29.53 cm)
K: 2 × 8 1/4 inches (5.08 × 20.96 cm)
A: 20 3/4 × 5 5/8 × 3 inches (52.71 × 14.29 × 7.62 cm)
B: 23 × 4 5/8 × 3 inches (58.42 × 11.75 × 7.62 cm)
C: 15 1/2 × 4 3/8 × 3 1/8 inches (39.37 × 11.11 × 7.94 cm)
D: 7 1/2 × 8 3/4 inches (19.05 × 22.23 cm)
E: 26 1/4 × 66 5/8 inches (66.68 × 169.23 cm)
F: 47 5/8 × 74 3/8 inches (120.97 × 188.91 cm)
G: 9 × 8 1/4 inches (22.86 × 20.96 cm)
H: 10 inches (25.4 cm)
I: 1 1/2 × 6 7/8 inches (3.81 × 17.46 cm)
J: 2 1/4 × 11 5/8 inches (5.72 × 29.53 cm)
K: 2 × 8 1/4 inches (5.08 × 20.96 cm)
Credit LineGift of PaceWildenstein Gallery in honor of Laura and Michael Fields, Don and Adele Hall, Jan Schall, Deborah Scott, and Marc Wilson on the occasion of the opening of the Bloch Building
Object number2007.19.A-K
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionObject depicts what appears to be an oil spill on the floor, with two droplets of black oil puddled over the main spill, two on the floor, and three which are to be installed so that they appear to be dripping down a nearby wall. On top of the primary "pool" of oil, which is actually glass, is a cardboard globe of the Earth, with countries in multiple colors and the oceans represented in black.Gallery Label
Fred Wilson's The Ominous Glut conveys a political message. With its pool and droplets of "oil" overwhelming the globe and its oceans awash in black, The Ominous Glut reminds us of our dependence on oil. Referencing greed, pollution, global warming and wars in the Middle East, the sculpture addresses oil-related issues threatening our planet. The Ominious Glut further raises the topic of colonialism, since both oil and slaves were colonial exports.
A small detail, a pair of eyes, located on one of the drops of oil, evokes a range of simultaneous associations. The eyes anthropomorphize the sculpture, add an element of surprise and create an ironic comic effect. They also suggest stereotypical cartoon images of African-Americans and related racist memorabilia.
A small detail, a pair of eyes, located on one of the drops of oil, evokes a range of simultaneous associations. The eyes anthropomorphize the sculpture, add an element of surprise and create an ironic comic effect. They also suggest stereotypical cartoon images of African-Americans and related racist memorabilia.
Copyright© Fred Wilson
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