The late Spanish sculptor Juan Muñoz (1953-2001) loved card tricks. He did a whole series of radio programs, in fact, where he explained different tricks. In turn, he once described the principle of his work as “sleight of hand.” Trickery is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you see the work in the small survey at Marian Goodman’s uptown space, though: Muñoz’s sculptures and works on paper have a kind of restraint and seriousness throughout. They are odd but elegant.
What I want to do here is explain how I think Muñoz’s particular magic trick works, passing through one particular work in the show.