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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Hammer Acquires Barbara Kruger’s "The Globe Shrinks"

The Hammer Museum is pleased to announce the acquisition of Barbara Kruger’s The Globe Shrinks (2010), which debuted at Mary Boone Gallery, New York, in 2010 and was shown this spring at Sprueth Magers, London. The piece is currently on view L&M Arts, Venice, CA in her first one-person exhibition in the region since 1999.

The four-channel, 13-minute video installation features performers delivering Kruger’s insightful, often biting commentary on contemporary society, intercut with her signature provocative text panels and images of fundamentalist religious gatherings. In this immersive work, Kruger elaborates on her ongoing interest in societal hierarchies, power structures, interpersonal exchange, and consumer culture.

"The Hammer's purchase of The Globe Shrinks is so important to me. Having spent over 20 years in Los Angeles, this support of my most recent video installation is tremendously appreciated and means so much,” said Barbara Kruger.

Today the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has also announced its acquisition of Kruger’s Untitled (Shafted), (2008), commissioned by LACMA for the opening of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM), where it is currently on view in the elevator shaft. Visit LACMA’s Unframed blog more information. Jori Finkel reported about both acquisitions in today’s Los Angeles Times.

Barbara Kruger lives and works in Los Angeles and New York, and teaches at the University of California, Los Angeles. One-person exhibitions of her work have been presented at venues such as the Institute of Contemporary Art, London; Kunsthalle Basel; Musee d’art contemporain de Montreal; the Kunsthalle Dusseldorf; the Serpentine Gallery, London; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt. She was awarded The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005.

Image: Barbara Kruger. The Globe Shrinks, 2010. 13 minutes. 4 channel projection. Photos: Joshua White/JWPictures.

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