Lynda Benglis - National Museum of Women in the Arts

Lynda BenglisEridanusMaterial WorldLynda Benglis has created art from wax, liquid latex, neonlights, ceramics, polyurethane foam, and metal. She choosesher materials based on their physical properties and culturalreferences to evoke many different associations and emotionsin viewers.National Museum of Women in the Arts

Lynda BenglisEridanus, 1984Take a closer lookLynda Benglis (b. 1941) often has one material masqueradeas another. In Eridanus she transformed wire, bronze, zinc,copper, and aluminum into a form resembling knotted cloth.Benglis titled the work after a constellation, but intends forviewers to interpret it for themselves.Who knew?In her own wordsThe constellation Eridanus has been associated with riversin many ancient cultures. Star maps often portray it as a riverflowing from the constellation Aquarius. The ancient Greeksassociated Eridanus’ haphazard path with the veering flightof Phaëton, son of Apollo, when he unsuccessfully sought tosteer the sun chariot.“I was attracted to [metals] because of the notions of energythat the metals have, and [like a] muskrat, you are attractedby something that shines.”Lynda Benglis, Eridanus, 1984; Bronze, zinc, copper, aluminum, and wire; 58 x 48 x37 inches; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of AT&T, Inc.; Art © LyndaBenglis/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NYSee For Yourself cards for the New York Avenue Sculpture Project: Niki de SaintPhalle are supported by donations from J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundationand SunTrust Foundation.National Museum of Women in the Arts