articulated pigeon skeleton coated -
with tar, mounted on a wooden crate -
7 x 4 x 5.25 inches, 17.5 x 10 x 13 cm (pigeon) -
40 x 12 x 13.5 inches, 101 x 31 x 34 cm (crate) -
Signed and numbered edition of 8,
plus 2 artists proofs.
Mark Dion (USA, 1961) is a conceptual artist renowned for his installations that mimic scientific presentations, challenging perceptions of history and nature. His works often critique how institutions shape our understanding of the natural world, blending art and science to question objectivity. Dion's notable projects include Neukom Vivarium and The Library for the Birds of New York.
Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.
articulated pigeon skeleton coated -
with tar, mounted on a wooden crate -
7 x 4 x 5.25 inches, 17.5 x 10 x 13 cm (pigeon) -
40 x 12 x 13.5 inches, 101 x 31 x 34 cm (crate) -
Signed and numbered edition of 8,
plus 2 artists proofs.
Mark Dion (USA, 1961) is a conceptual artist renowned for his installations that mimic scientific presentations, challenging perceptions of history and nature. His works often critique how institutions shape our understanding of the natural world, blending art and science to question objectivity. Dion's notable projects include Neukom Vivarium and The Library for the Birds of New York.
The job of the artist is to go against the grain of dominant culture, to challenge perception and convention.
- Mark Dion
As a conceptual artist, Mark Dion has received acclaim for his incorporation of scientific presentations throughout his installations as a means of challenging pre-existing notions of history, the natural world and knowledge and the way it has previously been presented. For his Rescue Archaeology piece at the Museum of Modern Art, Dion excavated the construction site surrounding the museum’s extension, and amassed and presented a number of found objects such as pieces of old wallpaper, tiles and keys. The Curiosity Shop is another of Dion’s most notable works; the large-scale mixed media installation features an assortment of his own personal objects, collected over the years from ‘flea markets, yard sales and junk stores’. Of his exploration of existing museum ideologies and the accumulation of objects, Dion has stated that ‘The job of the artist is to go against the grain of dominant culture, to challenge perception and convention’.
Sometimes referred to as Conceptualism, this is an art form where the idea(s) or concept(s) behind the work take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. Many conceptual artworks can be created by anyone simply by following written instructions. The concept or idea is the most essential aspect of the artwork.