presented at / commissioned by
​LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM, NYC

Unknown, Head of a youth, ca.475-400 BC, marble, 7.5 x 4.75 x 5.25 in.
​Leslie-Lohman Collection.

Attribution is a bold and provocative approach to art making that blends unconventional curatorial practices with techniques used to research and craft a historical novel. While facts provide a solid historical foundation, fiction allows the artist to create a narrative where fluidity plays a key role in connecting and intertwining the themes explored in the exhibition. The exhibition features works specifically created for this occasion, as well as pieces treasured by the Leslie-Lohman Museum and from other public and private collections. The creator and curator are the same person behind this show. From this complex relationship, a new entity is born to challenge the fragile boundary between facts and fiction.

​ Attribution is layered with intersectional issues related to otherness, serving as a form of inquiry rooted in the human condition and history: the Graeco-Latin duality, which shifts between Apollonian order and Dionysian excess; the influence of psychoanalysis on artistic expression and its role in shaping twentieth-century imagery; the connection between pain, pleasure, queer sexuality, and martyr iconography; the racial, social, and sexual transgressions influenced by Black culture both in the USA and internationally; and finally, water as a fundamental element featured in the underground secret society called The Cult of Fluids and in Roland Barthes’s concept of “abyss.”

Dealing with such material feels like an illusion tied to Paco Cao's destiny. It can be seen as an astral alignment that dissolves all signs of truth, but at the same time, it involves reaffirming the self and others. Mystery and certainty can be surprisingly powerful allies.

Attribution presents observations that combine various materials, emphasizing the viewer's perspective. The artist encourages viewers to identify anomalies, distinguish truth from deception, and dismantle artful lies if necessary.

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