21 Apr 2008

THISISCURATING1-40

H & M; 'Franco', 2008. video still

THISISCURATING1-40 http://www.firstdraftgallery.com

THISISCURATING1-40

Opening in Sydney on April 23, 2008, Firstdraft Gallery presents THISISCURATING1-40: the ninth in a series of invited exhibitions, characterised by emerging and experimental curatorial practice and as a showcase of emerging artists, based locally and overseas. Made possible by Arts NSW funding, this exhibition gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance provided by the Firstdraft Emerging Curator Program.

THISISCURATING1-40 offers an assemblage into the limits and possibilities of bringing works together. It is in fact, as the basic premise of the title suggests - a statement of 40 curating and artistic statements, brought together intuitively and asymmetrically. This group exhibition presents 40 works by artists based in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Oslo and Berlin. The curating of this exhibition seeks to extend its own selecting principles by reactivating a moment in art history and seeing this gesture through a 'contemporary' exhibition.

In mainly Europe and the US, the intersection of curating and artistic interests within avant-garde and neo avant-garde exhibitions - however faint, ill-defined or insubstantial - was, as Bruce Altshuler suggests, presented during the Modernist period and through the unfolding years of a decentered, fragmented and dispersed self and world. Today, within our new world order, the resolve between modernism and postmodernism inflects another curatorial and artistic modulation, where a reconfigured self is defined by a world of imaginary connections that produce spaces for relations to take place, aiming to secure us from the dissecurity of life. Perhaps within this foregrounding of art an impulse beats towards a renewed understanding of our situation, where as Alexander Alberro recently remarked in a lecture at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, that contemporary art is conceivable as an "ensemble of forces"? From the perspective of art's exhibition - a group defined by its solos; a performed act towards an audience; produced by a coordination of varying forces - sees the abstraction of life and its structures being presentable.

Moving from the general to the particular, the ongoing work of Vito Acconci is one instance where the constitution of an ensemble is derived from a steady rush of idiosyncrasies. No doubt this rushing idiosyncrasy is well established within artistic practice: Acconci himself is renowned for his unorthodox and unconventional tactics. Within the exhibition device of a group show, the tactic of singularity is knowingly curtailed by curating's overarching reach. To off set this leveling tendency, THISISCURATING1-40 takes the poet come conceptual, performance, video artist; then turn design, architecture and public art studio, as an Acconci patent ready for curatorial counterfeiting. By imitating elements and gestures of Acconci's early practices, particularly from language to performance contexts, THISISCURATING1-40 curatorially appropriates - contra to convention and expectation - an equally idiosyncratic concept and approach to the group exhibition. In playing with groupings within a group, solos within the solo, concepts within a concept, practices within a practice, THISISCURATING1-40 seeks, as Acconci once did, a site where the self-enclosed space of the page has "slipped away".

Formally varied and conceptually divergent, the exhibiting artists have each selected three 'works' - a total of 39 - for the exhibition. Ranging from video to photography, performance based to collaborative, sculpture to installation and including a range of conceptual positions and artistic interests, THISISCURATING1-40 presents an unrestrained showcase. One curatorial conceit - 3 Acconci works - makes up the 40th work to be selected, counterfeited and redisplayed by the curator.

Works by: Niels Betori Diehl, Sharon Chin, Annie Cohen, Andrew Haining, Greedy Hen (Katherine Birkman & Kate Mitchell), Samuel Hodge, David Keating, Victoria Lawson, Mario Pfeifer & Amy Patton, William Pritchett, H & M (Hanne Rivrud & Monja Wiik) Justin Shoulder and Nadia Wagner.

(A newspaper style exhibition catalogue will be available during the exhibition)

Event:

Exhibiting artists (and their guests) and non-exhibiting artists and curators have been invited to add their own conversation to the exhibition. This event will take place every Thursday and Saturday evening, moderated by the curator. Details listed below:

40 Minute Mics: Artist and Curator Talks
Every Thursdays (6 - 8:30pm) and Saturdays (4 - 6:30pm)

April 24: Will Pritchett, Kate Mitchell, Katerine Brickman

April 26: Victoria Lawson, Nadia Wagner, Hanne Rivrud, Monja Wiik

May 01: Justin Shoulder, Andrew Haining, Samuel Hodge

May 03: Anneke Jaspers (curator, art writer), Aaron Seeto (artist, curator; Director, Gallery 4A)

May 08: Zanny Begg (artist), Keg de Souza (artist)

May 10: Biljana Jancic (artist) and Soda_Jerk (artists)

(Additional speaker biographies/media releases to be sent out as talks are hosted)

About the Artists:

Greedy Hen: began in 2005 in Sydney. It is an artistic collaboration between Katherine Brickman (b. 1982, in Sydney, Australia) and Kate Mitchell (b. 1982, in Sydney Australia). Greedy Hen group exhibitions include: "A Traveling Menagerie," (2007) at Musee 16 Portland USA, "I Collect" (2006) National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Soya Awards (2006), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.

Niels Betori Diehl: was born in 1975 in Rome, Italy. He lives and work in Berlin.

Sharon Chin: was born in 1980 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She currently lives and works in Kuala Lumpur. In 2003, Chin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne. Her recent solo exhibition includes: "Sensors" (2007) The Annexe Central Market, Kuala Lumpur and Fourth World (2006), The Australian High Commissioner Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur. Recent group exhibitions include: Selemat Datang ke Malaysia (2007) and "The Independence Project" (2007-2008), Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur and Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne.

Annie Cohen: was born in 1982 in the Blue Mountains, Australia. She currently lives and works in Sydney. In 2006 she received First Class Honours for her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography) from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales. She is currently undertaking a MFA at the same institution. In 2005 Cohen was awarded the Kodak Australasia Award for Photography and in 2001 the Julian Ashton Scholarship for Fine Art. Her recent group exhibitions include: "Incomplete Darkness" (2007), ATVP, Sydney; and "Mona Horse Bazaar Panoramic Digital Art Prize" (2007), Horse Bazaar, Melbourne.

Andrew Haining: was born in 1983 in Sydney, Australia. He currently lives and works in Sydney. Haining is completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales in 2007. His solo exhibitions include: "3:4" (2008), The Site Office; His group exhibitions include: "Inhabitance" (2007); The Site Office, Sydney; "Dance Dance Revolution" (2006), Kudos Gallery, Sydney; and "Barter Charter" (2005), Knot Gallery Sydney.

Samuel Hodge: was born in 1978 in Glen Innes, Australia. He currently lives and works in Sydney. Hodge’s photographic work has appeared in Nothing Magazine (Issue 06, 2007); Russh Magazine (Issue 2, 2005) and Butt Magazine (Issue 03, 2005). His group exhibition include: "Light Brigade" (2007), Chalkhorse, Sydney.

David Keating: was born in 1977 in Melbourne, Australia. He currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany. In 1998, Keating received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne. His recent solo exhibitions include: "There’s a Storm Blowing Up Above Us" (2007) at the Wendt +Friedmann Gallerie Berlin and the Glasgow Project Room. Recent group exhibitions include: "Tales from the Travel Journal vol. 1" (2006) at the Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius, Lithuania; and Rich Text (2005) at RMIT Gallery Storey Hall, Melbourne.

Victoria Lawson: was born in 1973 in Home Hill, Australia. She lives and works in Sydney. In 2004, Lawson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales. She is currently a PhD Candidate (Fine Arts) at the Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney. Lawson’s solo exhibitions include: "Walking to Work, Series III", Brunswick Street (2007), Queensland Centre of Photography; "Our Investment" (2006), Queensland Centre for Photography, Brisbane. Her other exhibitions include: "The Dream Merchant" (2008), Blacktown Arts Centre, Sydney; and "+Plus Factors "(2006) Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne.

Mario Pfeifer: was born in 1981 in Dresden, Germany. He currently lives and works in Berlin. Pfeifer is currently completing his Master of Fine Arts (Film and Video) at the Städelschule Frankfurt (with Prof. Willem de Rooij) and was recently awarded the US Fulbright scholarship for Fine Arts. Pfeifer’s recent group exhibitions include: "The 4th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival" (2005), Bangkok.

Amy Patton: was born in 1979 in Nacogdoches, Texas and lives and works in Berlin. Patton completed her Master of Fine Arts at the Institute for time-based media at the Berlin University of Fine Arts in 2006. Solo exhibitions include:" Come Across: Amy Patton and Gäelle Baucand "(2007) at the Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco and "The Lost Picture Show: Amy Patton and Victoria Fu" (2007) at Ballhuas Ost, Berlin. Other group exhibitions include: "Notes on Places" (2007) at the Kunsthalle Berlin-Lichtenberg and the Kunstfilmbiennale, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, as well as "Urban Appearances" (2006) at the Kunstverein Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin.

William Pritchett: was born in 1997 in Manila, Philippines. He currently lives and works in Sydney. Pritchett’s group exhibitions include: "Spontaneous Instinct: William Pritchett and Sam Ash" (2007), China Heights, Sydney; and The 100th China Heights Art Show (2007), China Heights, Sydney. His solo exhibitions include: "What Difference Does It Make?" (2008) China Heights, Sydney.

Hanne Rivrud: was born in 1982 in Oslo, Norway. She currently lives and works in Oslo. In 2006, Rivrud received a Bachelor of Fine Art (Film and Video) from the National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo. Her recent solo exhibitions include: In Our Darkest Hour (2004) at Gallery 21:25, Oslo. Her recent group exhibitions include: "Overtures #3" (2007), Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art, Istanbul; "Goodbye Privacy" (2007), Ars Electorica LInz, Austira; and "Mobile Journey" (2007), 52nd Venice Biennale of Art, Italy.

Monja Wiik: was born in 1977 in Oslo Norway. She currently lives and works in Oslo. In 2006, Wiik received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Video) from the National Academy of Fine Arts Oslo. Her recent solo exhibitions include: Jolene (2008), Galleri Texas; As, Norwary; and "Various Positions" (2005), Gallerie 21:25 Oslo Norway. Recent group exhibitions include: "Unravelling Demons" (2006), Galeria Arsenal, Poland.

Justin Shoulder: was born in 1985 in Sydney, Australia. He currently lives and works in Sydney. In 2007, he received First Class Honours for his Bachelor of Digital Media (Sculpture/Performance) from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales. Shoulder’s recent performances include: "Grotto Metro" (2007), Kudos Gallery, Sydney; "Fantastic Creature: You little Stripper" (2007), Lan Franchis, Sydney; and The Parramatta Riverbeats Festival ( 2007), Sydney. His group show’s include: "Quick and Dirty" (2008), Performance Space, Sydney.

Nadia Wagner: was born in 1982 in Sydney, Australia. She currently lives and works in Sydney. In 2005 Wagner received a Bachelor of Design (Honours) from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales, she has also studied at the University of the Arts (UdK), Berlin, Germany. She is currently researching her Master of Design (Honours). Nadia’s group show includes: "Porosity Car" (2005), Beijing College of the Arts. Her solo exhibition includes: "Urban Olfactics 1A/1B" (2008), Blank Space, Sydney.


About the curator:

Joel Mu is an independent curator. He was born in 1981 in Darwin, Australia. In 2008 he received a Bachelor of Philosophy / Bachelor of Art Theory (Honours) from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has previously worked in Berlin curating the group exhibitions: "vonANGELSzuRIOTS" (2005), NewYorkRioTokyo*; and "all together now" (2006), with Fiona Hall, Projekt 0047. Between 2005-2006, he also worked as a co-organizer for Sparwasser HQ: Offensive for Contemporary Art and Communication, Berlin. He currently lives and works in Sydney.

About the Gallery:

Firstdraft is a non-profit gallery run on a voluntary basis by a group of practising artists. It is one of the longest running and most successful artist-run initiatives in Australia. Firstdraft asserts the importance of contemporary art production, dissemination and discussion in society, providing a stimulating exhibition space that is professional and accessible for a diverse range of artistic practices and projects.

Firstdraft is supported by the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

For more information, please contact:

116-118 Chalmers St.
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Sydney Australia
t. + 61 (0)2 9698 3665
www.firstdraftgallery.com

mail@firstdraftgallery.com

or

the curator: + 61 (0)438 817 977

open hours:
Wednesday to Saturday
12 - 6pm.