Cai Guo-Qiang
Charles Crumb
Marlene Dumas
Susan Hiller
William Kentridge
Paul McCarthy
Elizabeth Manchester
Daniela Steinfeld
Jon Thompson
Roger Malbert
Lucy Steeds
'The action of appearing'. This exhibition explores the multiple implications of the word 'apparition', from religious epiphany, to the way we present ourselves, to the emergence of a work of art. It brings together drawings, videos and photo-pieces by artists from Europe, North America, China and South Africa.
THE ACTION OF APPEARING
Cai Guo-Qiang, Charles Crumb, Marlene Dumas, Susan Hiller, William
Kentridge, Paul McCarthy, Elizabeth Manchester, Daniela Steinfeld, Jon
Thompson
an exhibition curated by Roger Malbert, with Lucy Steeds
and organised by Arnolfini, Bristol
This exhibition explores the multiple implications of the word
'apparition', from religious epiphany, to the way we present ourselves, to
the emergence of a work of art. It brings together drawings, videos and
photo-pieces by artists from Europe, North America, China and South Africa.
In Marlene Dumas's series of drawings 'Jesus Suffering' the traditional
image of Christ's face is subverted by her use of contemporary source
material, magazine images and photographs of bearded friends.
William Kentridge uses the magic, suggestive power of shadow puppetry in
his animated film 'Shadow Procession'. Picking up on the social and
political situation in South Africa and aspects of the artist's own life,
its mood switches from the mournful to the carnivalesque with the
appearance of Alfred Jarry's Père Ubu.
Most recently seen at Tate Modern with a spectacular fire piece crossing
the river, Cai Guo-Qiang contributes 'Money Net', a gunpowder drawing,
created literally in a flash as a prelude to an earlier event at The Royal
Academy which can also be seen on DVD.
In 'All My Dresses with All My Shoes' Elizabeth Manchester changes her
appearance through every permutation her wardrobe will allow, while the
German artist Daniela Steinfeld envelopes her own body in furniture
stuffing, as if she were turning inside out.
Equally grotesque is Paul McCarthy's video-performance 'Painter' which
presents an outrageous parody of the self-obsessed Abstract Expressionist
painter in the frustration of terminal decline.
The exhibition also includes works by Charles Crumb, Jon Thompson and Susan
Hiller and is accompanied by a hard-backed, illustrated catalogue with
essays by Lucy Steeds and Roger Malbert.
There will be a private view on 8 March 6-8pm.
Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQ
tel +44 (0)1223 352124