Iranian/Amer.Siah Armajani's First Major US Retrospective at Met Breuer: Follow this Line

It's surprising that Siah Armajani (b Tehran 1939) immigrated to the US in the 1960sis only now having his first major retrospective at the Met Breuer given he's numerous large public installations both nationally & internationally including New York's 65' "Lighthouse" at the St. George's Ferry Terminal in Staten Island ('96).  This beacon of community gathering offers the public an incredible view of the NY Harbor.  "Follow this Line" is an extensive retrospective which shows the artist serendipitously blurring the lines between architecture & sculpture.  Many of Armajani's work in this exhibit call out violence towards minorities and censorship.  Armajani is an artist and architect.  I'll focus on his miniature architectural structures in the front gallery that are delightful, surprising, magical, childlike and sophisticated.  The nonsensical "Hogwarth" stairs, off kilter roofs and dollhouse size items that appear in unexpected places defy logic and kindle the imagination.  The inviting large grouping of diminutive houses and facades spill over with jest.  Do watch the video slides highlighting scores of his public installations which include bridges, outdoor & indoor public constructions located in many small US cities and overseas.  A bright orange railroad car sits atop an elongated bridge.  The small houses are constructed mainly of cardboard and the sturdy public structures of metal and wood are intended to draw the individual in and communities together.  Armajani was  transfixed with the gravity defying lunar landing in July '1969.   The NYT's paper of this historic event is splayed out with Armajani's wry wit. He writes as Eve to Adam, "We could fly to the moon if you'd only invent the balloon" and on another page "We broke Newton's law and the world saw with awe - the face of the man on the moon."  This well curated exhibit does expound Armajani's political and philosophical artworks.  There are opposing tensions in the "reading rooms" in the back gallery that invite you to enter and read from the papers and texts provided.  An ominous feeling of captivity pervades compelling some to steer clear.  And, the multitude of pencils embedded into wood evoke the perils of censorship.   Armajani referred to the German philosopher Martin Heidegger who said, "We still by no means think decisively enough about the essence of action." "Follow this Line" a Retrospective of Siah Armajani's structures and art leads the viewer towards concrete pragmatic undertakings and also draws you through the looking glass.