Reality And Illusion: Achieving A Balance In The Exhibition And Treatment Of Robert Gober's Untitled Wax Legs

The document discussed the creation and exhibition history of Robert Gober's "Untitled" wax legs, which were crafted in 2004–5 and featured human hairs inserted into beeswax. These art pieces were part of a larger installation involving bathtubs with running water and were displayed at the Matthew Marks Gallery in 2005 before being acquired by MoMA. They were subsequently exhibited in 2007 at the Schaulager Museum and in 2014–5 at MoMA. Over time, the legs experienced various conservation challenges, including wax discoloration, efflorescence, algae bloom, soiling, pitting, and hair loss. The paper provided an overview of the legs' fabrication and detailed their exhibition and treatment histories.