June 1, 2001
By ROBERTA SMITH
Meanwhile, in E-Chel, the Esso Gallery is devoting its fourth show in its new space to an Italian maverick named Carlo Ferraris, who works in photography, video and installation and seems to operate rather effectively under the illusion that it is still, after all, the 1970's. The artist records his movements during a day at home with a floor plan, an architectural model and an audiotape. He places 50 drinking glasses containing used motor oil on a gently slanting shelf so that the ink levels define a perfect horizontal line. He achieves hilarious results by photographing or videotaping, from the knees down, the legs of groups of men who have exchanged either a sock or a shoe.