the swimmer: a visual journey inspired by cheever’s short story
The FLAG Art Foundation presents The Swimmer, an expansive group show running from June 6th — August 9th, 2024, at its 545 West 25th Street location in New York, curated by FLAG’s Director, Jonathan Rider. The exhibition, inspired by John Cheever’s 1964 short story of the same name, brings together an impressive and eclectic mix of artists including Henni Alftan, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, and Zoe Crosher, among others. Their works explore themes of class, idealism, and failure through the lens of Cheever’s narrative, creating an experience that mirrors the journey of the story’s protagonist, Neddy Merrill.
The Swimmer covers the timeless issues of alcoholism, grandiosity, and the crumbling American Dream, using Cheever’s tale as a foundation to weave a narrative through diverse artistic practices. The FLAG Art Foundation’s ninth floor features an array of evocative paintings, photographs, and sculptures that position the viewer as the ‘swimmer’ in a disorienting space, while the tenth floor focuses on the human figure within water.
Read the full article at designboom.com.