Barney, Matthew | Cremaster 3 Mahalym, from The Cremaster Cycle, 1994-2002 — available on Composition Gallery

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Offset lithograph lithograph in colors, 2001-2, on glossy photographic paper - Published by the Musée d'art Moderne de la Ville, Paris

Cremaster 3 Mahalym, part of Matthew Barney's expansive Cremaster Cycle (1994-2002), is a striking offset lithograph on glossy photographic paper. Measuring 75.9 x 49.5 cm, this artwork embodies Barney's fascination with biology, mythology, and symbolism through a surreal and layered narrative. The image depicts two figures dressed in unconventional, symbolic attire, posed in a dramatic embrace that blurs traditional gender roles and physical forms. The Cremaster Cycle is known for its exploration of complex themes, blending anatomical references with cultural and mythological elements, challenging viewers to interpret its surreal compositions. This piece reflects Barney’s unique, provocative style, inviting contemplation of identity, transformation, and the human body’s symbolic power.

Matthew Barney (USA, 1967) is a multidisciplinary artist renowned for his visually stunning films, sculptures, and installations that merge mythology, biology, and identity. Best known for his epic Cremaster Cycle, Barney creates complex, surreal narratives exploring transformation and the human condition. His innovative and ambitious works have redefined the boundaries of contemporary art.

Matthew Barney

Cremaster 3 Mahalym, from The Cremaster Cycle, 1994-2002

Name: Cremaster 3 Mahalym, from The Cremaster Cycle, 1994-2002
SKU: 10442
Price: 4500.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

Offset Print

Offset PrintOffset lithography is a printing technique where the inked image is first transferred (offset) from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. This method combines the lithographic process, which relies on the repulsion of water and oil, to keep non-printing areas ink-free by attracting a water-based film. Offset lithography was originally developed to reduce costs in reproducing artwork and is widely used for high-volume printing due to its efficiency and ability to produce sharp, consistent images.

Edition

Edition of 100

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Offset lithograph lithograph in colors, 2001-2, on glossy photographic paper - Published by the Musée d'art Moderne de la Ville, Paris

Matthew Barney

Cremaster 3 Mahalym, from The Cremaster Cycle, 1994-2002

Photography

Offset Print

USD 4,500

No sold works to show.

A lot of these pieces are about creating a system and then inhabiting that system.
- Matthew Barney

Matthew Barney is a multi-medium creative artist. His most recognized (and controversial) works consist of performance art, sculpture, drawing, and symbolism blended together in a series of Avant-Garde films known as the Cremaster series. Cremaster is a scientific term referring to the ascension and dissension of a muscle of the male anatomy.

In addition to the film series’ unusual name, the filming and release of the five films, produced between 1994-2002, were done purposely out of order, Cremaster 4, 1, 5, 2, and 3 respectively. Each movie tackles a subtheme of the whole, exploring human gender and sexuality from fetus to adulthood. Although the running theme is biological, the aesthetics are a combination of artist mediums.

Other acclaimed films written and directed by Barney include Drawing Restraint 9 (2006) and DeLama Lamina (2007). His films have been analyzed in detail by critics and fans for their multilayered, controversial topics and use of diverse forms of expression.

Artwork by Yves Klein

What is body art?

Body art involves creating art directly on or with the human body. Common forms include body piercings and tattoos, but it also encompasses practices like branding, scarification, scalping, body painting, full-body tattoos, body shaping, and sub-dermal implants. Body art can also refer to a subcategory of performance art where the artist's body is central to the artwork.

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Matthew Barney

Cremaster 3 Mahalym, from The Cremaster Cycle, 1994-2002

75.9 x 49.5 cm

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Matthew Barney