Diana on Shooting Bench (2018) by Matthew Barney

Diana on Shooting Bench - Matthew Barney - 2018

Artwork Information

TitleDiana on Shooting Bench
ArtistMatthew Barney
Date2018
Art MovementConceptual Art

About Diana on Shooting Bench

The artwork titled “Diana on Shooting Bench” was created by Matthew Barney in 2018. As an exemplar of contemporary Conceptual Art, this installation is designed to encapsulate complex ideas through its very form and structure, engaging the viewer’s interpretation beyond the mere visual experience.

The artwork presents itself as a curious assemblage of copper-hued elements, reminiscent of both industrial and organic forms. At its center stands a tripod-like structure, arching elegantly yet robustly and anchored to the ground by broad, almost flattened feet that spread outward, a subtle nod to stability and precision. These supports seem to mimic the legs of a shooting bench, a platform designed to steady a marksman’s aim.

Rising from the tripod’s apex, a horizontal platform serves as the stage for the focal point of the piece: a rectangular copper panel embossed with a textural, concentric pattern that draws the eye to the central relief, which bears the hint of a classical, perhaps mythological, figure in action. The shimmering quality of the copper medium complements the intricate detail, lending the artwork a rich, tactile allure.

Flanking the central imagery are two gracefully curved elements that suggest the idea of archery: possibly representing the yokes to hold a bow, they add to the thematic connection to Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, archery, and the moon. Above the embossed panel, two wiry structures rise and twist like tendrils, culminating with looped ends that add an organic dimension and a sense of completion to the ensemble. Below the tripod, additional copper straps and pieces lay on the ground, suggesting discarded, or perhaps spent, components of this ritualistic tableau.

The artwork invites a contemplation of form and material, mythology and modernity, blending assembled constructs with allusions to the ancient and the primordial. It stands as a testament to the conceptual motivations behind its creation, where every choice of material and shape serves an interpretive purpose in the dialogue between the artist and the observer.

Other Artwork from Matthew Barney

More Conceptual Art Artwork

Scroll to Top