The artistic hub of Marfa in West Texas has received a new addition to its landscape with Matt Johnson’s “Sleeping Figure, 2023,” a colossal sculpture constructed from 12 decommissioned shipping containers. Originally debuted in the Coachella Valley as part of Desert X, it has found a permanent home near Marfa, situated against a scenic mountain vista. Open 365 days a year starting this September, the 150-foot-long, 40-foot-tall creation took nearly two years and $200,000 to fabricate.
The sculpture, which vaguely resembles a reclining body, has historical and contemporary resonances, referencing both ancient reclining Buddhas and recent global supply chain crises. The new installation adds to Marfa’s rich artistic heritage, already home to massive artworks like Prada Marfa and works at the Chinati Foundation.
Photo Lance Gerber/Courtesy the artist and Desert X
Looks like a trash dump. Talk about ugly!
Marfa’s legacy = screwing the locals out of property so they have no affordable housing and no places to open business in return for gawdy businesses that provide no real benefit for the community. Looks like all the other garbage in Marfa.
This is Awful , you have stacked up a bunch of trash and called it art, this is a travesty to the beautiful landscape of Marfa, I am calling for it’s removal.