The Roof Garden Commission 2021: Alex Da Corte

By Shanay Jhaveri, Jack Halberstam, and Sheena Wagstaff

Alex Da Corte confronts themes of identity and consumerism in his work by placing familiar objects and cultural icons in surprising and surreal contexts. As Long as the Sun Lasts, his new site-specific work commissioned by The Met for its Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, draws together the beloved Sesame Street character Big Bird and the kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder. Shanay Jhaveri's incisive essay explores Da Corte's deep engagement with art history, popular culture, and his personal experiences. Cultural critic Jack Halberstam provides a compelling consideration of As Long as the Sun Lasts in the context of Da Corte's earlier work, and the artist further discusses his diverse influences—from Renaissance painting to horror films—in a conversation with Sheena Wagstaff.

Shanay Jhaveri is Assistant Curator of International Modern and Contemporary Art, and Sheena Wagstaff is the Leonard A. Lauder Chairman, both in the Modern and Contemporary Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jack Halberstam is Professor of Gender Studies and English at Columbia University.