Thomas Hirschhorn celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the 'Gramsci Monument'

Thomas Hirschhorn is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his public installation, 'Gramsci Monument'. The work embodies Hirschhorn's principles and intentions of public artwork: it was borne from and fuelled by relationship with the community it was situated in. The anniversary will be celebrated in that same community. 

Named in honour of philosopher Antonio Gramsci, the work was curated by Yasmil Raymond and produced by Dia Art Foundation. Hirschhorn describes Erik Farmer, President of the Forest Houses Tenants Association as the project's 'key figure'. The celebration will bring people together as the installation once did, staging the community whose presence Hirschhorn sees as essential to the day to day existence of 'Gramsci Monumnent'. Hirschhorn says: 

'At the "Gramsci Monument" the everyday presence and production of some of the residents constituted the work’s most valuable outcome. Their participation during those 77 days of summer 2013 constituted the core of the "Gramsci Monument", gave it its soul and formed its spine. Such a precious 'hard core'-Team is self-built in an organic way through mutual interest and reciprocal attraction. To have experienced this was a moment of grace.'

Installation images: Thomas Hirschhorn, 'Gramsci Monument', 2013. Forest Houses, Bronx, New York. Copyright Thomas Hirschhorn. Courtesy the artist.