The first mechanized sculpture by maverick Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, Charlie (2003), consists of a life-sized, animatronic child with the artist’s face, riding a motorized blue tricycle. For this single-work exhibition at MOCA Grand Avenue, Charlie is deployed throughout the museum’s galleries, remote-controlled by a staff member who visibly follows it around the space. The piece was commissioned by MOCA and coincided with multiple exhibitions of the museum’s permanent collection, including Mid-Century Masterworks from the Collection. Thus, while perusing some of the most important works in Western art history, visitors might suddenly be approached by the child figure.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue.
Maurizio Cattelan is organized by Alma Ruiz, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.