Ryan Gander extraordinary installation, an intrigued human armature made up of stainless steel, brass, aluminium and plastic
The Sainsbury Centre has recently unveiled a striking new artwork by the renowned artist Ryan Gander OBE RA, titled “Ms Modern Classical Conceptualist, or Their Shadows Obscured (Dramaturgical framework for structure and stability)” (2025). This thought-provoking installation features a life-size, intricately crafted human armature composed of stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and plastic, which appears to gaze upwards at a suspended, disarticulated version of itself. The armature’s limbs gently circle the ceiling of the Sainsbury Centre’s iconic Living Area gallery, inviting viewers to ponder the very essence of humanity. By gazing up at its own abstract, mobile counterpart, the armature prompts us to consider how we position ourselves in the world and how we perceive others.
The Sainsbury Centre’s bold relaunch in 2023 marked a significant turning point, as it became the world’s first museum to formally acknowledge the dynamic, living nature of art. This pioneering approach enables visitors to forge meaningful connections with the artwork, blurring the boundaries between the viewer, the art, and the surrounding environment. Gander’s installation is a poignant reflection of this ethos, as it encourages us to contemplate our own humanity and the intricate web of relationships we weave with others. By exploring the nuances of empathy, humility, and power, Gander’s work invites us to engage in a profound dialogue with the artwork and, by extension, with ourselves. The armature’s presence is both mesmerizing and unsettling, its gaze seeming to hold a mirror to our own vulnerabilities and strengths.
Ryan Gander’s artistic practice is characterized by a fascination with the complexities of human experience, often incorporating elements of sculpture, film, installation, and performance. His work frequently resembles a puzzle, replete with multiple connections, fragmented narratives, and hidden clues waiting to be deciphered. “Ms Modern Classical Conceptualist” is no exception, as it embodies the artist’s reflections on the interplay between empathy and humility. By juxtaposing strength and power as opposing states, Gander’s work raises essential questions about the human condition, prompting us to consider the intricacies of our own relationships with others. The armature, as a generic, non-specific form, serves as a canvas for the viewer’s projections, reflecting our own moralities, weaknesses, and empathetic capacities. This introspective quality is a hallmark of Gander’s art, which, while politicized, resists simplistic ideological categorization.
Gander’s creative process is informed by a range of critical references, including Erving Goffman’s seminal work “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life” (1956). This sociological text explores the concept of dramaturgical analysis, which involves the study of social interaction as a form of theatrical performance. Positioned in the Sainsbury Centre’s Living Area, the armature assumes the role of a solitary figure waiting in a public space, evoking a sense of familiarity and shared human experience. This setting invites us to contemplate the performative nature of everyday life, where we continually navigate the complexities of being observed and observing others. For Gander, the notion of multiple realities and individual projections is a fundamental aspect of human existence, underscoring the inherent subjectivity of our experiences and perceptions.
The armature’s solipsistic metaphysical stance, which posits that only individual minds exist, surrounded by a dreamlike reality of their own creation, adds a layer of complexity to the artwork. By embracing this idea, Gander’s installation encourages us to confront the intricacies of human action and interaction, drawing parallels between sociology, anthropology, and the study of visual language and semiotics. This comprehensive approach seeks to codify the nuances of non-verbal communication, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of human connection. As we engage with the armature, we are reminded that our individual perspectives are merely one facet of a vast, intricate web of human experience, shaped by our unique histories, emotions, and perceptions.
Ryan Gander’s distinguished career is marked by numerous accolades, including an OBE for services to contemporary arts in 2017 and his appointment as a Royal Academician in 2022. His work continues to inspire and challenge audiences, inviting us to navigate the labyrinthine complexities of human existence. As we gaze upon the armature, suspended in its introspective reverie, we are reminded of the profound power of art to illuminate our shared humanity, with all its attendant vulnerabilities and strengths. The Sainsbury Centre’s bold commission of “Ms Modern Classical Conceptualist” is a testament to the institution’s commitment to fostering a dynamic, living dialogue between art, audience, and environment, one that promises to continue inspiring and provoking us for years to come.
