George Brecht
dal 9/9/2004 al 9/10/2004
Segnalato da
9/9/2004
George Brecht
Gagosian Gallery, London
Works from 1959 - 1973. One of the most influential artists of the 1960s in New York, where he became involved with the experimental group of artists associated with Fluxus such as John Cage, Walter de Maria and George Maciunas. Brecht's background in research chemistry, statistics and oriental philosophy would ultimately form the foundation of his thinking and his art. Included in the exhibition are such seminal objects/events as 'The Case (Suit Case)' (1959), 'Medicine Cabinet' (1960), 'Chair Event' (1960), and 'Monument to the Revolution' (1970), amongst others.
Gagosian Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition of the work of George Brecht.
Born in New York in 1926, George Brecht was one of the most influential artists of the 1960s in New York, where he became involved with the experimental group of artists associated with Fluxus such as John Cage, Walter de Maria and George Maciunas. Brecht's background in research chemistry, statistics and oriental philosophy would ultimately form the foundation of his thinking and his art.
An underlying principle in Brecht's oeuvre, inspired by the Dadaist Tristan Tzara, is that ''reality is more interesting and important than art.'' Following this paradigm, Brecht incorporated music, time and space in his work, presenting simple, randomly arranged objects and calling on the viewer to bring his own experiences to the work: to interact with the object, to rearrange elements, or to do nothing.
Concerned with overturning conventions and upsetting cultural expectations, Brecht introduced chance and open-endedness into his work, expanding on the Duchampian form of the readymade by creating objects that were ''events,'' replete with multiple, unforeseeable possibilities.
Included in the exhibition are such seminal objects/events as "The Case (Suit Case)" (1959), "Medicine Cabinet" (1960), "Chair Event" (1960), and "Monument to the Revolution" (1970), amongst others.
Accompanying the exhibition is a fully-illustrated catalogue including a new essay on Brecht's work by Thomas Kellein, Director of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, and an historic interview with the composer Michael Nyman.
George Brecht currently lives in Cologne.
Image: George Brecht, Painted chair, walking stick and orange, 87.6 x 48.3 x 95.3 cm
Gagosian Gallery
8 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BU