Benches, or Find a Friend at the Y

Inverted architectural models of cruising spots, as benches. Drawn, rendered, and constructed from Zhao's memory. "The work is about love, the longing for it, and where it takes place." —ZZ Not the shape of the exterior. Not the form of the enclosure. The opposite of an architectural model. The shape of the interior. The shape of the volume inside. The shape of the atmosphere. The shape of what you can't see. The shape of what you feel. The shape of intimacy. The shape of desire. The shape of emotions. The shape of the dark. The shape of deep bass. The shape of breath. The shape of humidity. The shape of heat. The floor plan is drawn from Zhao's memory. The ceiling height is estimated from Zhao's memory. The volume is constructed of wood and steel. The surface is polished concrete, tinted in muted pastels. Bumpy, lustrous. Hand polished. Hard as a rock. Walls, columns, and passages turn into slits, nooks, and openings. A partition wall between two shower stalls becomes a gap to grip casually while sitting on the bench. The sculptures are benches. You can sit down on the sculptures. Sex becomes furniture. A place where you can wait to meet someone. "A bench always yearns." —ZZ A black and white film by Zhao is projected on the side of the green bench.

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389 Grand Street

New York, NY