Brooklyn Museum Celebrates 200th Anniversary with Zadik Zadikian’s “Path to Nine” in “Solid Gold” Exhibition
As part of its 200th anniversary, the Brooklyn Museum will unveil its much-anticipated “Solid Gold” exhibition, featuring the profound work of artist Zadik Zadikian. This collection is expected to draw visitors not only for its visual spectacle but also for its deep philosophical layers, embodying the museum's commitment to diverse and groundbreaking art.
The centerpiece of the exhibition, Path to Nine, is an immersive installation by Zadikian that seeks to explore and celebrate the enduring allure and symbolism of gold. Scheduled to open on November 16, the installation consists of 18 towering stacks of gold-leaf gilded ingots, each arranged in a checkered pattern. Through these 999 plaster ingots, accented with stainless steel rods, Zadikian delves into themes of structure, repetition, and transformation. The artist’s choice to focus on the number nine—rich with mathematical and mystical significance—reflects his long-standing fascination with numbers and their hidden properties.
Zadikian’s relationship with gold extends beyond its physical beauty or material value; he views it as a symbol of endurance, purity, and cosmic witnessing. This affinity is woven through his life and career, which began in Yerevan, Armenia, where he was born in 1948. At a young age, he displayed exceptional artistic talent and, at just 15, was accepted into the prestigious Art Academy of Yerevan. His early work as a student earned him opportunities to exhibit in prominent museums across Yerevan and Moscow, cementing his reputation as a skilled sculptor.
However, Zadikian’s journey took a dramatic turn at 19 when he made a dangerous escape from Soviet Armenia, swimming across the freezing Arax River under the threat of gunfire. Determined to seek artistic freedom, he eventually arrived in the United States, where he began a transformative chapter in his life. In 1969, he settled in San Francisco, working as an assistant to the well-known sculptor Benjamino Bufano. Bufano, a friend of renowned modernist sculptor Constantin Brancusi, exposed Zadikian to the power of scale, color, and the discipline of artistic creation.
A few years later, in 1974, Zadikian moved to New York City, a move that would cement his place in the art world. Immersed in the vibrant and often challenging atmosphere of the city, he became close friends with famed minimalist artist Richard Serra, assisting him on large-scale projects. The experience shaped his view of art and scale, instilling a focus on creating large, impactful works that command the viewer’s attention.
One of Zadikian’s most ambitious early projects involved covering his entire studio and home—10,000 square feet—in gold leaf. This act of gilding walls, floors, and ceilings transformed the space into a radiant, golden vision, marking the beginning of his exploration of gold as a material that could convey not only opulence but also a sense of eternity. This obsession continued with his 1978 project, “1000 Bricks Gilded in 24 Karat Gold Leaf,” where he crafted individual gold-leaf-covered bricks, bringing a universal materiality to his work that was both ancient and otherworldly.
Zadikian’s “Path to Nine” at the Brooklyn Museum is a continuation of this journey. The installation’s rows of gold ingots are both mesmerizing and meditative, inviting viewers to consider the quiet power of repetition and symmetry. It challenges visitors to move beyond the everyday and to contemplate concepts like eternity and the fundamental structures of the universe. For Zadikian, each gilded ingot represents a unit of timeless elegance, a building block on which complex forms are built, much like the basic elements of nature.
The “Solid Gold” exhibition is the Brooklyn Museum’s tribute to two centuries of cultural evolution and innovation. Originally established as Brooklyn’s first free circulating library, the museum has grown into a major cultural institution, renowned for exhibitions that blend tradition with modernity and for its commitment to diversity in art. Zadikian’s work is an ideal fit, as it transcends cultural and artistic boundaries, offering both a visual spectacle and a philosophical journey.
The exhibition, running through July 6, 2025, will undoubtedly be a highlight of the museum’s anniversary celebrations. With Zadikian’s golden creations at its core, visitors will experience not only a piece of contemporary art but also a glimpse into the cosmic significance of gold—a material as timeless as the ideas it represents. For art enthusiasts and the general public alike, “Path to Nine” offers an opportunity to reflect on the profound connections between art, nature, and the universal quest for meaning.
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