contemporary visions
Transcription
contemporary visions
CONTEMPORARY VISIONS! CONTEMPORARY VISIONS! 16.08 – 30.09 2012 1 Baldwin Street, London EC1V9NU! Matthew Allen | Gigi Cifali | Ronin Cho | Zavier Ellis | Rebecca Griffiths | Lindsay Mapes Nigel Massey | Renato & Roberto Miaz | John Ryan | Fleur Van Dodewaard Contemporary Visions is the first group exhibition at the newly relocated Beers.Lambert Contemporary in its new premises on City Road. The exhibition presents 10 contemporary international artists, (selected from an pool of nearly 1800 applicants worldwide,) who each question the destability of the image and of presence. The collective point of departure for each of the artists is precisely how a vision of reality becomes translated through the artistic frame of reference. The selected artists work in all media and within all genres of art ‐ from figurative to abstract and even conceptual, each being selected for an artistic practice that somehow perceives reality as one that has been fragmented, reconstructed, and destabilized. Certainly the title Contemporary Visions refers (at least poetically) to that forward vision which might present some transcendent answers for our present existence ‐ a type of artwork (figuratively speaking, of course) as self‐fulfilling prophecy in and of itself. Perhaps more literally, it suggests a desire for tomorrow's art to achieve that vision which remains ceaselessly ahead of the curve, referring to the very acts and objectives of the artists themselves, as the very nature of 'contemporary art' suggests an art that looks to the future, identifying and successfully embodying that which is yet to come ‐ that which today remains indefinable. Therefore, the exhibition originates with the notion that perception and perspective is subjective, and dependent on a fictional recreation of one’s perceived experience. The unifying conceptual thread that runs throughout the exhibition appears to call forward to some anxiety toward an Orwellian future ‐ yet one that very consciously presents itself as more Logan's Run than Blade Runner. One might prematurely reflect upon this collection of work by stating the exhibition is conceived as a vision of 'tomorrow', however in order to avoid the oversimplified connotations therein, the exhibition remains about how one sees and how one frames the object for receipt of the viewer. Fleur van Dodewaard's 'frames of frames within frames' operate very consciously like photographic Russian‐dolls: like a second‐party recounting a tragic accident which somehow loses gravitas with each retelling, there remains a phantom of some not‐so‐distant origin that exists lurking beneath van Dodewaard's careful photographic mise‐en‐scene. Still, there remains a lighthearted play between the intention of these artists and the execution, presentation, and interplay of the works. Indeed the works appear to emanate a view of a dystopian society, but this is a view masquerading in utopian hues. Matthew Allen's subversively cheerful tone‐on‐tone paintings come to mind, like candy‐colored epitaphs in bubble‐gum pinks, unearthly greens, and sky blues, suggesting a depth of meaning lurking beneath the surface of the canvas that reveals its true melancholy with prolonged viewing. John Ryan’s exploration of perception delves into the purely material, in which paint becomes topographic, sculptural, and utterly anthropomorphic. Swaths of metallic oil paint are playful in Lindsay Mapes' DIY‐style paintings, arriving in garish neons, gold, and silvers, laden atop the canvas in purposeful heaps like lunar astro‐turf; but the vision here is also gloriously (and metallically) carnal, with Rebecca Griffith's Twin Turbo apropos for a contemporary fossil of urbanity seemingly lifted from Crash, JG Ballard's pessimistic take on consumerism and sexuality. For Griffiths, it appears that inner turmoil and consumerist spectacle have collided in some monstrous, albeit slickly sensuous amalgam of forms. Nigel Massey's plexi‐glass encased sculptures are like solitary tomes that self‐consciously recall the West's search for mysticism through a (mis)appropriation of Asian‐culture, perhaps through its ubiquity in contemporary decor alongside what might appear to be specimens encased from 'the homeless', (with media including ink‐soiled blankets, chipboard, and sheets), these packages seems practically ripe for the gaze of the museum visitor from the future to consider, however accurate or not, scenarios of privileged 21st century living. Perhaps Gigi Cifali best offers a tranquil restaging of our world ‐ reframed in cameo form, these photographs from the Vesuvian landscape take on a strikingly contemporary newness. Their presentation as landscapes that have been cut into ‘portholes’ serves to accentuate the instability of the image and the artist’s unreliability in presenting the imagery Beers.Lambert Contemporary, 1 Baldwin Street, London EC1V9NU www.beerslambert.com | [email protected] | + 44 (0)207 502 9078 for the viewer. Contemporary perceptions of our world ‐ endlessly de‐contextualized and re‐contextualized ‐ become awash in a Baudrillardian stream of thought, an endless array of images that, through reproduction, begin to lose any particular individuality. Zavier Ellis’ mixed‐media work is presented like monumental palimpsest of dystopian urbanity, like a relic from some imagined past or not‐so‐distant future, a document of both urban art and the decadence of existence. It might be Roberto and Renato Miaz's exceptionally skillful paintings that could ‐ in one respect ‐ seem to paraphrase this ideology, where still‐frames and fragments of memory, faces, and specifics become blurred ‐ not quite out of reach but never fully attained. Overall, it remains the concept of that disconnect between reality and fantasy where the works find their strongest thematic strain; here the vision of a future reality is cyclical, and haunting: Ronin Cho's kinetic sculpture, Fair Idle, features the detached arm – cast from his own body – in an endless cycle, forever catching handfuls of sand, only to pause as it passes through the cyborg's fingers, and back into the pool of sand. It is a futile act, repeated out of preconditioning and the inability to defy its apparent purpose. What Cho seems to critique with this piece is mirrored in the collective voice from the entire exhibition: one where the perfunctory act and assumed view are both refuted, challenged, and called into review; a new perspective aware of its entrapments, and optimistic for tomorrow, whatever that vision may hold. 1. Rebecca Griffiths, Turbo Twin, 2011, HIP (plastic), vinyl tiles, paint, MDF, 135x240x190cm. Unique Edition. 2. Matthew Allen, Orange Over Two Greens, 2010, oil and acrylic on canvas, 122x100 (each) 3. Lindsay Mapes, Not Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining, 2011, acrylic and oil on chalk ground on panel, 30x30cm 4. Lindsay Mapes, Caution, 2012, graphite and oil on chalk ground on panel, 15x15cm 5. Zavier Ellis, Mon Dieu, 2009, house paint, spray paint, and collage on board, 200x200cm 6. John Ryan, Rot, 2011, oil, frame, glass, lard, 32.5x23.5cm 7. John Ryan, Cover, 2011, oil, frame, glass, lard, 20x15cm 8. Nigel Massey, #4 Wednesday Radio, 2011, Jacquard tapestries, Perspex, bed sheets, board, 76x115x18cm MaIhew Allen, Orange Over Two Greens, 2010, oil and acrylic on canvas, 122x100 (each) Gigi Cifali, from the series New Vesuvian Landscapes, 2011, C‐Print, 40cm diameter. EdiSons available 1‐6. Gigi Cifali, from the series New Vesuvian Landscapes, 2011, C‐Print, 40cm diameter. EdiSons available 1‐6. Ronin Cho, Fair Idle, 2012, steel, resin, motor, micro‐processor, sand, 47x71x105cm. Unique EdiSon Zavier Ellis, Mon Dieu, 2009, house paint, spray paint, and collage on board, 200x200cm Rebecca Griffiths, Turbo Twin, 2011, HIP (plasSc), vinyl Sles, paint, MDF, 135x240x190cm. Unique EdiSon. Lindsay Mapes, Not Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining, 2011, acrylic and oil on chalk ground on panel, 30x30cm Lindsay Mapes, CauCon, 2012, graphite and oil on chalk ground on panel, 15x15cm Nigel Massey, #4 Wednesday Radio, 2011, Jacquard tapestries, Perspex, bed sheets, board, 76x115x18cm Roberto & Renato Miaz, Portrait d’ArCste #1, 2010, acrylic on canvas, 130x100cm Roberto & Renato Miaz, Kawaii #3, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 130x100cm John Ryan, Alice, 2011, oil, frame, glass, lard, 37.5x30.5cm John Ryan, Rot, 2011, oil, frame, glass, lard, 32.5x23.5cm John Ryan, Cover, 2011, oil, frame, glass, lard, 20x15cm Fleur van Dodewaard, from Nude Studies, 2011, C‐Print, 70x40cm, EdiSons available: 2, 5. Fleur van Dodewaard, from Nude Studies, 2011, C‐Print, 70x40cm, EdiSons available: 2, 5. Fleur van Dodewaard, from Nude Studies, 2011, C‐Print, 70x40cm, EdiSons available: 2, 5. MATTHEW'ALLEN'(b.'1981'New'Zealand)'Matthew'Allen’s'recent'solo'exhibitions'include'The$Stone$of$Impermanence,' Cite'Des'Arts'Internationale,'Paris'2012,'Ruminations$on$the$End,'Sydney'Non'Objective,'Sydney'2012,'Field$Paintings,' Sullivan' &' Strumpf,' Sydney' 2011.' Recent' Group' exhibitions' include'Painting$ as$ Presence,' MOP' Gallery,' Sydney' 2012,'SSFA12,$Sullivan' &' Strumpf,' Sydney' 2012,'A$ damn$ good$ painting$ show,' General' Store' for' Contemporary' Art,' Sydney'2011.'He'is'the'recipient'of'the'Moya'Dyring'Studio'residency'at'the'Cite'des'Arts'Internationale,'Paris'2012,'A' Sydney'Non'Objective'studio'residency,'2011,'and'was'granted'the'Australian'Post'Graduate'Award,'2006'–'2007.'His' work'has'been'published'in'The$White$Review,'No.3,'October'2011'and$Australian$Art$Collector,'September'2011.'He' holds'an'MVA'from'Sydney'College'of'the'Arts.'Currently'living'and'working'in'Sydney,'Australia.' RONIN' CHO' (b.' 1982,' South' Korea)' 'Ronin' Cho’s' recent' exhibitions' include' One' Giant' Leap,' Saatchi' Gallery' Suite,' Hyatt'Regency,'London'(2012);'Kinetica'Art'Fair,'Ambika'P3'London'(2012);'The'face'of'the'shape,'La'Scatola'Gallery,' London' (2011);' Saatchi' New' Sensations,' Victoria' House' Bloomsbury,' London' (2011);' Behind' Object,' La' Scatola' Gallery,'London'(2011);'X,'Rua'Red,'Dublin,'Ireland'(2011);'and'a'forthcoming'group'exhibition'Contemporary'Visions' with'Beers'Lambert'in'August'2012.'Projects'include'Art'Below,'Regent'Park’s'Station,'London'(2011);'Digital'Design' Week,'V&A'Sackler'Centre,'London'(2011);'Delphus'Project,'Delphi,'Greece'(2011).''He'is'selected'for'the'one'of'four' finalist'of'2011'Saatchi'New'Sensations.'His'work'is'a'part'of'the'collection'of'the'Saatchi'Gallery'London.'He'holds'a' 2011'MFA'from'the'Goldsmiths,'University'of'London.'He'lives'and'works'in'London,'UK.' GIGI' CIFALI' (B.' 1975,' Naples).' Gigi' Cifali' recent' solo' exhibitions' include:$ Absence$ of$ Water,' Galleria' Marconi' Cupra' Marittima' Ascoli' Piceno' 2012,' Step$ 09$ 3th$ Edition' Museo' della' Scienza' e' della' Tecnologia' Leonardo' da' Vinci' Milan' 2012,'Absence$of$Water'Rob'Shazar'Gallery'Benevento.'Group'exhibitions'include:'_Underscore'Spazio'Blanch'Naples' 2012,'Multiplied'Christie’s'South'Kensington'London'2011,'Della$Natura'Galleria'Spazio'Farini'Milano'2010,'Affluenza' MultydDisciplinary' Visual' Arts' Exhibition' London' 2009,$ AOP$ Association$ of$ Photographers$ Awards' Group' Exhibition' AOP' Gallery' London' 2009,' IPA$ Lucie$ Foundation$ International$ Photography$ Awards$ Show' New' York' 2009,' Foto8$ Summer$Show'at'Host'Gallery'in'London'2009.'He'is'recipient'of'AOP'Awards'2009,'IPA'Lucie'Foundation'Awards'2009' and'Calumet'Assistant'Photo'Awards'2008.'He'has'been'awarded'with'the'Fuji'Photo'Awards'in'the'2007.''His'works' have' been' featured' in' Good' Magazine' US,' Insight' Magazine' UK,' Fourdays' Magazine' UK/Germany,' Watch' Russia,' Interni'Architecture'Magazine'Russia,'The'Balde'Pais'Basque,'London'Independent'Magazine'and'AOP'magazine.'He' holds'a'Master‘s'degree'in'Photojournalism'from'Westminster'University.'His'work'has'been'exhibited'in'the'UK'and' abroad'and'been'held'in'private'collections'in'Russia,'Brazil,'United'Kingdom'and'Italy.'Gigi'Cifali'currently'lives'and' works'in'London.' ZAVIER'ELLIS'(b.'1973,'United'Kingdom).'Zavier'Ellis’'recent'exhibitions'include'London$International,'Klaipeda'Culture' Communication'Centre,'Klaipeda'(2011,'curated'by'Edward'LuciedSmith);'The$Future$Can$Wait$presents:$Polemically$ Small,$Torrance' Art' Museum,' Torrance' (2011,' curated' by' Edward' LuciedSmith,' Max' Presneill' &' Simon' Rumley);'Stockholm$Syndrome,'Studio'B3.2,'London'(2011,'curated'by'Alexis'Milne);PressArt:$Die$Sammlung$Annette$ und$Peter$Nobel,'Museum'der'Moderne,'Salzburg''(2010);'and'The$Term$“Reality”,'Paul'Stolper,'London'(2010).'He'is' an'internationally'respected'artist,'gallerist,'curator'and'occasional'lecturer,'and'has'exhibited'in'Austria,'Lithuania,' United' Kingdom' and' United' States;' and' curated' exhibitions' in' Berlin,' Frankfurt,' Helsinki,' Klaipeda,' London,' Los' Angeles,' Naples' and' Rome.' Zavier' is' also' founder' and' director' of' the' Old' St' gallery' CHARLIE' SMITH' london' and' launched'the'seminal'survey'show'The$Future$Can$Wait$in'2007,'which'is'now'in'partnership'with'The'Saatchi'Gallery.' His' work' is' in' collections' in' Denmark,' Germany,' Switzerland,' United' Kingdom' and' United' States,' including' Werner' Grub,'Anne'Lewis'and'Peter'Nobel.'Zavier'also'sits'on'various'selection'committees'including'20/21$London$Art$Now,' Lodge' Park,' Cheltenham' (2012);Outside$ the$ White$ Cube,' Bermondsey' Project' Space,' London' (2012);'Anthology,' CHARLIE'SMITH'london,'London'(2011,'2012);'and'Vauxhall$Collective$Style$Council$(2008,'2009).'He'holds'a'Masters' in' Fine' Art' from' City' of' Guilds' of' London' Art' School' (2003d2005)' and' a' degree' in' History' of' Modern' Art' from' Manchester'University'(1993d1996).' REBECCA' GRIFFITHS' (b.1984,' UK).' Rebecca' Griffiths'' recent' exhibitions' include' The$ Pleasure$ Principle,' Hoxton' Art' Gallery,' London,' 2012;' 'Here's$ Where$ the$ Living$ is,' Bethnal' Green' Library,' London,' 2012;' Royal$ Academy$ of$ Arts$ Summer$ Exhibition$ 2012,' Royal' Academy' of' Arts,' London;' A$ Future$ Pump$ House:$ Ideas,$ Thoughts$ and$ Plans,$ Pump' House'Gallery,'London,'2011;$With$the$Titanic$to$the$Moon'(part'of'the''Ausser'Haus''project),'Heidelberg,'2011;'Show$ RCA$2011,'Howie'Street,'London;'Creekside'Open'2011,'(selected'by'Phyllida'Barlow),'APT,'London,'June'2011.'Solo' exhibitions' include' Artist$ of$ the$ Day,' Flowers' Gallery,' London' (selected' by' Alison' Wilding),' 2011,'Slipping$ Contours,' The'Proctor'Gallery,'Cornwall,'2009.'Previous'exhibitions'include'Desire$is$a$Golden$Carrot,'The'Albion,'London,'2010;' Exeter$Contemporary$Open$2010,'Exeter'Phoenix,'Exeter;'Agitprop!,'Project'Space'11,'Plymouth,'2010;'The$Purpose$of$ Drawing,' Portland' Square' Cube' 3' Gallery,' Plymouth,' 2010;' Lunch$ is$ For$ Wimps’,' Triumph' Furniture' Showroom,' London,' 2010.' She' is' the' recipient' of' the' 2012' Royal' British' Society' of' Sculptors' Bursary' Award' and' has' previously' been' awarded'' the' BUILD' artist' residency' supported' by' Creative' Skills,' Cornwall,' 2009' as' well' as' an' Associate' Residency'at'Spike'Island,'Bristol,'2008.'She'holds'a'First'Class'BA'(Hons)'in'Fine'Art'from'University'College'Falmouth' and'an'MA'in'Sculpture'from'the'Royal'College'of'Art.' LINDSAY' MAPES' (b.' 1977,' USA.)' Lindsay' Mapes’' recent'exhibitions' include' 26.' Leandakatelouise.' London' (2011).' Play$Dead.$Bows'and'Arrows'Gallery.'Dallas,'Texas.'USA.'(2011).'Ridley$Road$Open$Studios.$London,'(2011).'Shows$1_ 10.$Leandakatelouise.'London,'(2010).'The'Slade'UCL'Degree'Show.'London,'(2010).'Test_Bed.'London,'(2010).'Make$ it,$ Pack$it,$ Print$ it,$ Ship$ it.$London,' (2009).' Dialoghi$ Multi$ Cure$ d’Arte.$Florence,' Italy,' (2007).' Piano$ Piano.' Florence,' Italy,'(2007).'Welcome$Home.'Florence,'Italy,'(2007);'and'a'forth'coming'group'exhibition'Contemporary$Visions$with' Beers.Lambert'in'2012.'She'was'shortlisted'for'The'Jerwood'Painting'Fellowship.'London,'(2012)'and'F_AIR'Artist'In' Residence.' Florence,' Italy'(2011).' She' is' the' recipient' of' Premio' Internazionale' Di' Scultura.'Edgardo' Mannucci.' Arcevia,'Italy,'(2006).'She'holds'a'MFA'in'painting'from'The'Slade'School'of'Art,'University'College'London.'She'lives' and'works'in'London,'England.' '' NIGEL' MASSEY' (b.' 1969,' UK)'Nigel' Massey’s' recent' exhibitions' include' (solo)' Hearth,' Charlie' Dutton' Gallery' 2012;' (group)'Angelika'Open,'Angelika'Studios,'2012'selected'by'Rod'Barton,'Paul'Kindersley,'Boo'Ritson'and'Danny'Rolph' (forthcoming);' Parallel$ Universe$ Charlie' Dutton' Gallery,' 2012;' Crash$ Open$ 2011,' Charlie' Dutton' Gallery' selected' by' Matthew'Collings,'Toby'Clarke,'Dan'Hays'and'Mike'Silva;'Creekside$Open$2011'selected'by'Phyllida'Barlow;'Mostyn$ Open$ 2011' selected' by' Richard' Wentworth,' Karen' MacKinnon' and' Anders' Pleass.' He' is' a' graduate' of' the' Royal' Academy' Schools,' London' where' he' was' awarded' the' JMW' Turner' Gold' Medal' for' painting.' He' lives' and' works' in' south'London.'' '' ROBERTO'&'RENATO'MIAZ'(b.'1965'd'1968)'''Masters'Series''solo'exhibition'Spazio'Thetis,'Arsenale'Novissimo'Venezia' (2012);''Winners'of'the'2011'International'Arte'Laguna'Prize,'Venice'(2011);Winners'of'the'2010'Amposta'Museum'of' Contemporary'Art'International'Biennial'Prize,'Barcelona'(2010)'d'selected'exhibitions'”Timecode”'Galleria'Iperspazio' Milano' (1996);' “Piercing”' Galleria' ViaFarini' Milano' (1996)' ;' “New' Age”' Ambient' Installation,' Paradiso' Club,' Rimini' (1995);'“Safe'Box”'Ambient'Installation,'Insomnia'Club,'Pisa'(1994)';'“The'Artists”'Ambient'Installation,'Cocorico'Club,' Riccione'(1994);'graduate'Milan'IED','College'of'Art';'they'live'and'work'in'Valencia',Spain.' '' JOHN'RYAN'(b.'1987,'Ireland)'John'Ryan's'recent'exhibitions'include'Polyglots,'Studio'9,'Wexford,'RESORT,'Portsalon,' Donegal,' The' Gilchrist' Fisher' Award,' Rebecca' Hossack' Gallery,' London,' Polyptych' Subsets:' Experiments' with' Paint' (solo' show),' The' Joinery,' Dublin,' UNDERGROUND' in' Basic' Space,' Dublin,' New' Living' Art' 2' at' the' Irish' Museum' of' Contemporary' Art,' Dublin.' He' is' the' 2012' winner' of' the' Gilchrist' Fisher' Award,' judged' by' Elizabeth' Magill' and' Matthew' Collins,' is' a' 2012' recipient' of' the' Dun' Laoghaire' Rathdown' Co' Council' Arts' Bursary,' and' in' 2011' was' selected'for'the'NEU/NOW'Festival.'His'work'has'been'subject'to'reviews'in'The'Visual'Artists'News'Sheet,'The'Irish' Times'and'The'Sunday'Times.'The'critically'acclaimed'show'UNDERGROUND'in'which'he'was'one'of'nine'participants' was' reviewed' by' Billion' Art' Journal,' Critical' Bastards' Magazine' and' The' New' York' Times.' He' is' a' 2011' Painting' graduate' from' the' National' College' of' Art' and' Design' in' Dublin.' He' lives' and' works' in' Dublin' where' he' is' a' studio' resident'in'Pallas'Projects.' '' FLEUR' VAN' DODEWAARD' (b.' 1983,' The' Netherlands).' Fleur' van' Dodewaard’s' recent' solo' exhibitions' include'The$ Celebration$ of$ the$ Monochrome,' Proekt' Fabrika,' Moscow' (2011);'Sun$ Set$ Series,' Artpocalypse' gallery,' Amsterdam' (2011).'Group'exhibitions'include'Nieuwe$Naakten,'Museum'of'Modern'Art,'Arnhem'(2012),'Colour$Blocking,'Nieuwe' Vide,'Haarlem'(2012);'Free$Transform,'Third'Party'Gallery,'Cincinnati'(2012);'STILL/LIFE,'FOAM'Photography'Museum,' Amsterdam'(2011);'FOAM$TALENT$2011,'FOAM'Photography'museum,'Amsterdam'(2011);'The$Second$Act,'De'Brakke' Grond,' Amsterdam' (2011);'Playground,' COBRA' Museum' of' Modern' Art,' Amstelveen' (2011);'Art$ Amsterdam,$with' Tanya' Rumpff' Art' Consultancy,' Amsterdam' (2011);'Bon$ Courage,' Second' Home' Projects,' Berlin' (2010).' She' is' a' recipient'of'several'grants'from'the'Dutch'Foundation'of'the'Arts'Mondriaan'Fund.'Her'work'has'been'published'in' amongst' others' in' British' Journal' of' Photography' and' Foam' Talent' Magazine' Her' work' is' part' of' the' Museum' of' Modern' Art' Arnhem' and' of' FOAM' Photography' Museum' collections' as' well' as' many' private' collections.' Fleur' van' Dodewaard'studied'Theatre'at'the'University'of'Amsterdam'and'Fine'Arts'at'the'Royal'Academy'of'Art'in'The'Hague' before'enrolling'in'the'Photography'course'at'the'Gerrit'Rietveld'Academie'in'Amsterdam,'where'she'graduated'in' 2010.'Fleur'lives'and'works'in'The'Netherlands.' '