'It's like playing jazz': Carl Cheng reflects on his ecological investigations at the ICA in Philadelphia
Briefly

Post-Minimalist artist Carl Cheng, with a career spanning six decades, emphasizes systems over instructions while defying conventional branding and genre limitations. His work integrates elements of technology and ecology, reflecting a playful yet insightful perspective. The exhibition 'Nature Never Loses,' curated by Alex Klein, highlights Cheng's conceptual depth and offers an immersive experience into his artistic vision. Klein's five-year dialogue with Cheng helped construct this retrospective, now displayed at the University of Pennsylvania after debuting at The Contemporary Austin, showcasing Cheng's continuous evolution as an artist.
"I’m not thinking about what my archive is," Cheng reflects, indicating a focus not on legacy but on ongoing exploration and creation in the present moment.
Alex Klein describes the exhibit as a 'labor of love,' emphasizing the extensive dialogue with Cheng that created a 'living window into the undersung artist's consciousness.'
Cheng’s work challenges the traditional notions of branding and genre, showcasing a blend of technology and ecological themes that reflect his innovative and playful spirit.
The influence of mid-1960s industrial design studies at UCLA and in Germany has steeped Cheng’s artistic practice in a pragmatic edge, rooted in the context of the Anthropocene.
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