Aernout Mik
dal 28/7/2003 al 14/9/2003
Segnalato da
28/7/2003
Aernout Mik
CaixaForum, Barcelona
A diverse selection of the Dutch artist's work. The exhibition features ten video installations created in recent years.
CaixaForum presents in Barcelona a diverse selection of the Dutch artist's work
Four women and three men are sitting on the floor. Some laugh uproariously
or furtively; others sob, moan or cry inconsolably. Not only are the
'happy' unable to sympathise with the 'sad', and the 'unhappy' incapable
of asking the 'content' for help, but no one is able to share their joy or
grief with their neighbour. Under the explicit title 3 laughing and 4
crying, the first surprise in this video installation by Aernout Mik
(Groningen, 1962) is the lack of sound, following the pattern set by his
latest installations. There are reasons why this Dutch artist's work is
known for its power to evoke the fragility of the human condition. Be it
through a stock market crash, a fight or an earthquake, the architectural
spaces that Mik creates surround spectators, interrogating and unnerving
them. CaixaForum (Barcelona) is presenting a varied array of this artist's
work, shown for the first time in Spain. The exhibition, organised and
produced by 'la Caixa' Foundation unites ten video installations created
between 1996 and 2002. Organic Escalator (2000) is among the showing's
highlights. It is an installation that takes place in a space whose walls
are outfitted with a device that slowly moves the projection screen,
bringing it closer to the spectator and making it seem that the disaster
being shown there is approaching, unstoppable. In the attempt to fulfil
his goal of creating a suggestive and disturbing atmosphere, the artist
has worked directly in the CaixaForum environment for this exhibition.
The exhibition Aernout Mik, curated by Marta Gili, can be visited at
CaixaForum (Av. del Marquès de Comillas, 6-8; Barcelona), from 30 July to
14 September, 2003.
The exhibition features ten video installations created in recent years.
Eight are on display in Room 1 of CaixaForum: Kitchen (1997), 3 laughing
and 4 crying (1998), Float (1998), Territorium (199), Organic Escalator
(2000), Glutinosity (2001), Middlemen (2001) and Park (2002). The other
two works are shown in different areas of 'la Caixa' Foundation's cultural
centre: Fluff (1996), under the escalator to the lobby, next to the
doorway of the Mediateca media library and Garage (1998) in the CaixaForum
access hallway to the car park. Notable among the video installations is
Organic Escalator, placed in the central part of Room 1.
Opening: Tuesday, 29 July, at 8 pm
Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday and holidays, from 10 am, to 8 pm
Wednesdays in July and August, from 10 am to 12 pm
Mondays closed, except holidays
Free admission
images top: Aernout Mik, Organic Escalator, 2000, Video installation
CaixaForum
Av. Marquès de Comillas, 6-8
08038 Barcelona
Tel.: 902 22 30 40