57 Descending —
by Tj Aitken

Description:

57 Descending (76X35X36 in.) is a Cast stone/concrete (edition of 8)garden or large interior size sculpture. Custom cast color, aggregates and patinas available in the edition. Tj will match the original Duchamp colors or custom cast one to your preferences with granite, iron or glass aggregate combinations The Artwork: 57 Descending is a monument to the cresting of car culture, which has been strongest In America with the Boomer generation being steeped in it. Their favorite ride, the 57 Chevy was chosen to represent this turning point in a composition based on "Nude Descending a Staircase" by Duchamp (in 1911). That piece introduced the new study of motion from motion pictures and moving vehicles when technology was brand new. In 2011 the 42inch version was cast and added to a matching pedestal We must move away from our dependence on cars. We have begun the descent and they will not be what we have known by 2111. Related pieces: This composition has been under development for nearly 20 years. Tj created a maquette of the first study of the 57 Chevy forms with “Boomer’s Nike” a full size work 8 ft. long. A small study of this same form was cast in pewter in the 90s. The pedestal size studies used in this piece were cast in Bronze and plaster in 2006 leading to this composition modeled that year. The full size 57 Descending (14 ft) was cast in the same materials in 2010. It has been exhibited at several museums.