Taryn Simon | Father Country I Do Love You premieres a monumental body of work by Taryn Simon (b. 1975, New York). Filling the entire rotunda, the presentation brings together never-before-seen photographs, text, videos, and sculptures into a singular interactive installation. It is the first monographic exhibition by a photography-based artist in the museum's rotunda and the largest debut of new work ever staged at the Guggenheim.
Nearly a decade in the making, Father Country I Do Love You (2026) traces the real life of one unnamed federal agent through 42 multipart artworks or "chapters." Simon uncovers the ripple effects of her protagonist's actions and inactions: stings and entrapments, traitors and child soldiers, impeachment and Hollywood, mass shootings and poison. The agent's narrative is shadowed by the life of Simon's father, who lived in Thailand while working for the United States government before ending his career manufacturing and selling arcade games.
On view during the 250th anniversary of the United States, the work shines a shaky spotlight on democracy, memory, and the consequences of individual acts. A Bloomberg Connects audio guide features narration by Jodie Foster and an AI-generated voice clone of the artist's father, and visitors can take part in daily activations of interactive works including Kleroterion (2024), a reimagined election machine based on a device from ancient Greece. Organized by Nat Trotman, Curator, Performance and Media; initiated by Nancy Spector.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum