Chicago-based artist Bernard Williams exhibited a new series of dynamic sculptures and drawings intertwining familiar architectural icons with raw urban forms at Hyde Park Art Center. Inspired by the local landmarks of renowned architect Louis Sullivan, Williams restructured the signature lines and shapes from the facades of Sullivan’s buildings to create free-standing objects addressing cultural identity through decorative symbols.
Building on his previous work that incorporated ethnic iconography to question origins of race and heritage, Williams’ new work used architectural ornamentation as an additional form of cultural symbol. An updated version of Louis Sullivan’s mantra “form follows function,” Williams insists, “form functions as structure.” He activated these sculptures with forms mined from the cityscape provoking the viewer to recontextualize the socially inscribed decorative features that surround urban dwellers everyday.
