All Photos By Gail
Resembling a soft-serve ice cream swirl, the upper portion of this sculpture consists of the world’s largest crystal ruby, at 30,090 carats. Artist and Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh had the gem carved to poke fun at both fine jewelry and fine art. A ludicrous send-up of both disciplines, the sculpture, Ruby Kusturd (2009 – 14) evinces Mothersbaugh’s longtime interest in using humor as a means of cultural and institutional critique.
The sculpture is owned by gem collector James Zigras, and you can read its secret backstory at This Link.
Photographed in the Grey Gallery at NYU as Part of the Exhibit, Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, in July, 2017.
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