Artist Baseera Khan’s sculpture, The Liberator, which won them the top prize on the reality show ‘The Exhibit’, will be on view at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. The solo showcase at the museum was promised to the champion of the MTV and Hirshhorn’s reality TV competition. The winning piece is from the artist’s series “Bust of Canons” and will be on display from May 4 through July 16, accompanied by a lecture and conversation with the artist on May 25.
The Liberator features a 3D-printed scan of the artist’s body, sliced diagonally through the chakra with plexiglass panes and covered in luminous pink. The sculpture references and subverts an 18th-century statue of a Buddhist deity called “Naro Dakini” that is held in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. It expands on Khan’s practice of drawing on their body and individual experience to discuss universal themes. In this case, the personal and political struggle for liberation.
Melissa Chiu, Hirshhorn director, and The Exhibit judge praised Khan’s work in a statement saying, “Baseera Khan’s The Liberator poignantly depicts a human struggle that could not be more relevant today… The perspectives of artists like Baseera Khan show in-person visitors and national television audiences why artists are fundamental to society.”
The Exhibit began airing in March, with seven artists competing against each other for a chance to show their work at the Hirshhorn and win a cash prize of $100,000. Throughout the series, the contestants created works around a weekly theme, which were assessed by Chiu alongside guest judges. Working artist Baseera Khan participated in The Exhibit following their first solo shows, “Weight on History,” at the Moody Arts Center in Houston, Texas in 2022, and “I Am an Archive,” at the Brooklyn Museum in 2021. Their work is in the permanent collections of museums including the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim.
The Liberator took Khan six weeks to complete and drew from their well of “generative ideas.” Khan had already thought through a series of works, one of which they had completed for the Brooklyn Museum show, so they were able to piggyback off some of those ideas and create the brand-new work. Khan’s sculpture went up against those of fellow finalists Misha Kahn and Claire Kambhu. Khan expressed surprise at winning, as they had believed either Kahn or Kambhu would take home the top prize.
Khan’s win capped an experience that, by their account, was as fulfilling as it was supportive. They recalled how the contestants pulled together to help them complete their final commission. “I do think that this MTV show opened up a portal for artists to have more agency,” they said. “It helped me grow as a person. To be an artist is to be a person. If you’re not a person, you’re not really a great artist.”
The cash prize of $100,000 has already been spent by Khan, who put it down on a five-year lease for a studio. They believe they spent it in a way that will bring them energy and great protection. In June, Khan will unveil their commission for the High Line, a planned archway that continues their bold inquiry into power structures. “The archway is a colonial architectural feature; it shows power and possession. But it also the place that people go when they want to fight for democracy,” they said. “And I really love looking at these paradoxes.”
The Hirshhorn’s exhibition of The Liberator will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to experience Khan’s work up close and to engage with the ideas and concepts that the artist is grappling with. The museum is well-regarded for its commitment to showcasing the work of emerging artists, and The Exhibit is just one example of its dedication to promoting the next generation of artistic talent.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a lecture and conversation with the artist on May 25, providing attendees with a rare opportunity to engage with Khan and gain insight into their creative process and the ideas that motivate their work.
In conclusion, Baseera Khan’s sculpture, The Liberator, will be on view at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden from May 4. Khan’s upcoming commission for the High Line is highly anticipated, and will undoubtedly continue their tradition of using art as a medium to explore complex themes and challenge power dynamics.
