I went the
recent opening at DAZ – the Deutsches Architektur Zentrumfor a show called Structural Studies, a collaboration
between duo June 14, Toshihiko Mitsuya and Alex Schweder La. An interesting
group of artists/architects with admirable practices individually, however the
outcome of this project seems a little underwhelming. Using aluminum sheeting
common to Toshihiko Mitsuya’s practice, the group created a large scale series
of objects treating the materials with folding processes, weaving, etc
exploring the possibilities of form, volume, space and egress. The combination of
material and the treatment that the group employed lost some of the delicacy
that Mitsuya achieves when working with the same material in a smaller scale, leaving some of the intentions for the objects unclear. However the
contribution by artist/architect Schweder La is yet to come – Schweder La will
intervene with the installation – using mold in some way I think. I am going to
a round table discussion next week with the curator and contributing artists to
hopefully get a better insight into the project. However each artist is worth checking
out individually.
DAZ Installation
DAZ Installation
I also went to the Networking Breakfast organized by and hosted at the head quarters of ArtConnect Berlin in Neukölln. Fashion and lifestyle photographer Christoph Neumann presented a snap shot of his past and current projects. Artstars Nadja Sayej also gave a talk which can be heard online here – about her work with Artstars, some info and tips about Berlin and an insight into her program.
Christoph Neumann
The always informative and entertaining Nadja Sayej
And I also managed to get to
the opening of the latest show at the Hamburger Bahnhof of New York artist
Anthony McCall, called Five Minutes of Pure Sculpture. This is the first time
the artist has presented a solo show in a German museum.
Hamburger Bahnhof - with permanent light installation by Dan Flavin
Entering into the exhibition
space one is completely immersed in darkness – with only the light from the
installation permeating the space. Throughout the large hall (which was
formerly a train station) are a series of projections on both the floor
and walls drawing linear forms in electric white light. Slowly billowing from
various sources are gentle plumes of dry ice being haphazardly directed by invisible
fans. As the dry ice passes through the shaft of light being projected it
creates an ephemeral and constantly evolving architecture which the audience
can view from the exterior and interior. McCall has been developing this series since the 70’s which intersect drawing, film, animation and sculpture.
From inside one of the projections
Wall projection
Floor/vertical projection
And below is a little video I took from the interior of the work.
And in other news from Berlin.............................
Hubert Gustav is turning into a moody teenager and spending far too much time online ......
However...what's that in the distance Carolyn?
Spring! The horniest season of all! I've never seen so much blatant displays of affection in the streets of Berlin and Ubahn make out sessions.
Recently
I saw an exhibition at an art space out of Berlin at Haus am Waldsee www.hausamwaldsee.de. The exhibition Distinct Ambiguity profiled a series of projects
completed by GRAFT Architects www.graftlab.com.
Based in Berlin, Los Angeles and Beijing, GRAFT “creates
architectural hybrids which take up current cultures of taste and debates on
method and reflect on political as well as aesthetic issues”. The exhibition
consisted of a variety of components, from architectural models, plans, videos,
installations, prints, objects etc demonstrating the creative processes
involved from inception to outcome. There is an overwhelming amount of work is
on display, however one project which stood out was PINK in collaboration with
Brad Pitt (ofcourse!) in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. Check out this
clip below about the PINK Project.
Though the series of projects are diverse in scale, outcome and clients,
the thread of continuity is GRAFTs’ ability to elegantly combine innovative
design with a social conscience and an environmentally sensitive approach of
cross disciplinary excellence. I loved it.
The rear of the building which backs onto a lake.
And some cool apartment you can rent at the back of the gallery
I am just
finishing a work for one of my shows next year. For the past 18 months I have
been working on a series of sculptures under the title Revolutions, part of my ongoing investigations of the nexus between
architecture, dress and body theories. It’s a process whereby I turn simple 2D
shapes into complex 3D outcomes. I take a shape which I cut repeatedly and
connect together to create an object that expands and contracts. Working from
the foundation of pattern and dress making, these sculptures are built to either
be installed on the wall and floor, or more often hovering in space. In their
passive state the works are flat objects and when hung extend into active 3D
outcomes which vary in form and size depending on installation. Each work is
non-orientable which confronts the ergonomics of the human body that I describe
as organic infrastructures, with equal parts rhythm and chaos. I use stencils
and spray paint to create colour and surface designs which evoke movement and
changing mass. To see previous works from this series check out my website here
http://www.elizabethdelfs.com/gallery_12.html
and the catalogue from the exhibition here http://www.elizabethdelfs.com/pdf/rev_cat.pdf
Piecing together the order - these works usually have between 30 and 50 pieces to them.
