Artist Shannon Goff has recreated a full-scale replica of her grandfather’s 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V out of cardboard. As a native of Detroit schooled in the streetwise culture of ‘Motor City,’ Shannon has been witness to the ups and downs of industrial prosperity, rampant consumer capitalism and the more recent economic free fall of the city. However, the spirit of her exploration comes from memories of direct experience. When she was 5, her grandfather purchased the special edition collector’s series model in medium metallic turquoise with a white padded vinyl carriage roof, turquoise leather interior and a Cartier clock. “Best built for the highway, the Mark V’s smooth ride conjured up the sensation of floating on a cloud,” remembers Shannon.
In “Miles to Empty”, Goff reflects on how our increasing reliance on adaptive technologies has diminished the routines of human industry, and is changing our aesthetic sensibilities. Dauntingly laborious, challenging in concept and ambitious in scope, this monumental sculpture embodies Goff’s immense energy and her love of making. Goff demonstrates a high level of skill and ingenuity, which used to be present in all manufacturing before the production line eradicated first the hand, then the whole individual. Each part of the car is uniquely made, and in making it, she has imagined the many hands that collectively fabricated the vehicles on the Lincoln company assembly line.
Goff’s sculptural work is on view at Susanne Hilberry Gallery until November 14th, 2015.
all images courtesy of Shannon Goff