The biennial architecture festival Exhibit Columbus has removed a controversial art installation titled "A View of the World from Indiana" after it sparked tensions with its host venue. The installation, designed by professor Sarah Aziz, featured twelve wooden sculptures depicting well-known architects, some shown nearly nude with only thin strips of fabric covering their private parts.
Exhibit Columbus announced the removal on Wednesday, stating that the installation did not meet the organization's "high standards." According to their official statement, "A View of the World from Indiana was removed due to Sarah Aziz's late and unapproved changes to the concept and its resulting on-site execution." The organization emphasized that "as installed, the work did not meet Exhibit Columbus's high standards" and that the decision was made "to uphold the integrity and caliber of the program and out of respect for the community partner hosting it."
The installation consisted of twelve "bathtub Madonnas" – shrines typical of the Midwest where bathtubs are used to display the Virgin Mary – decorated with bits of glass to resemble Midwestern grottos. Each shrine contained caricature-like wooden statues of architects loosely associated with Midwestern states, created by Indiana-based artist Steve Carner. A large boom crane supporting a banner reading "Nothing To See Here" completed the display.
Among the architects depicted were Chicago-based architect Jeanne Gang and the late architect Michael Graves, both shown nearly nude. Other prominent figures included in the installation were Julie Snow, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marlon Blackwell, and Peter Eisenman. According to Aziz, the installation was meant to critique famous architects through the lens of an often-overlooked outsider art tradition while celebrating talent that emerges from the Midwest.
In an email response, architecture professor Aziz criticized the decision to completely remove her work. "I received an email informing me that I must remove it entirely in three days," she said. "The cancelling of the project is no different than the overlooking of midwestern candidates in the selection of architectural fellows in the region. It's always easier to default to something (or someone) safe and familiar."
The controversy appears to have stemmed partly from tensions with the Lutheran church that was hosting the exhibition over the contentious imagery. Aziz revealed that she had originally planned for the statues to be completely nude but made changes after requests from organizers. "I tried hands and fig leaves with metal," she told reporters. "This obviously upset Steve Carner, who fundamentally couldn't understand why a church could not host naked sculptures."
The artistic collaboration faced additional challenges when Carner pulled out of the project in late July. Aziz explained that "the compromise was that I could use the sculptures if I only covered them in underwear and returned them after three weeks." She also noted that finding a venue had been difficult from the beginning, saying, "I didn't have a site partner in February as no one wanted to host my project, so I was grateful that the Lutheran church took the traditional Christian role of caring for the unwanted."
Aziz acknowledged some responsibility for the contextual issues, stating, "The concept of the shrines was there from day one. Ultimately, the contextual oversight of putting Catholic shrines in the grounds of a Lutheran church is as much mine as it is the Church's and Exhibit's." Despite the controversy, hundreds of visitors were able to view the installation during the opening weekend festivities before its removal.
Exhibit Columbus, which organizes and facilitates funding for multiple temporary installations throughout the Indiana city every two years, said it was "glad that Sarah's work was realized and visible in its final form for Opening Weekend." The organization added that "Aziz controls all of the work's components, and we look forward to the possibility of it being exhibited again elsewhere." Columbus is renowned for its modernist architectural heritage, and previous installations at the festival have included works by architect Tatiana Bilbao and other prominent figures in contemporary architecture.
