The only thing I’ll say about Desert X is Jamal Khashoggi. But since Matt Johnson installed Sleeping Figure (2023) at Marfa International Foundation‘s sculpture ranch, I think it’s now OK to say it is an absolute banger.
That’s what crossed my mind this morning when I checked into Bluesky and saw Stacey Burns’ photo of the new year’s first sunrise landing on the dozen decommissioned shipping containers.
And what’s this? Under the clear Texas light of the cloudless day we can see that someone has painted a sleepy face on the head/container. I guess because it’s a figure, and it’s sleeping? Did a convoy of literalists just cross the border? Did they paint “Not actually a store” on the front of Prada Marfa?