A Game of Chess, Palimpsest
2024
Alex Da Corte American, born 1980
United States
Painted on the back of a transparent panel, Alex Da Corte’s A Game of Chess, Palimpsest layers visible and hidden meanings, incorporating sequin pins, velvet, and other concealed materials to reference unseen labor. The glossy work resembles a crossword puzzle—not a chessboard—one without numerical markers or clues. Beneath this formal play lies a haunting echo: the grid re-creates the New York Times crossword published on September 11, 2001. Lit by candle sconces, the work offers a quiet meditation on memory and loss.
Plexiglass, Flashe paint, sequin pins, foam, velvet, hardware, wood frame, powder coated steel, powder coated aluminum, glass, and candles