All City. Sculpture, photographs, mobiles, wall relief sculptures, videos, drawings and collages. These works attempt to visualize the chaotic intersection of communications, overlapping networks of transportation, and unfolding geopolitical events.
All City
Nathan Carter presents sculpture, photographs, mobiles, wall relief
sculptures, videos, drawings and collages in "All City" his third solo show
at Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York.
These works attempt to visualize the chaotic intersection of communications,
overlapping networks of transportation, and unfolding geopolitical events.
High-density color patterns, lines, letters, and graphic diagrams represent
modes of communication such as faxes, Morse code, cell phone signals, pirate
radio, ship-to-shore frequencies, air traffic control transmissions, and
text messages written on the go. These symbols are intermingled with
representations of airplanes, dirigibles, helicopters, subways, large- and
small-scale vehicles, communication towers, train diagrams, signage,
contrails, and flight patterns. Irreverent texts and menacing abstract
shapes add to the sense of disorder, leading to the question: What happens
when lines of communication break down?
A partial list of works described in the artist¹s own words:
One giant traveling blue and Bavarian cream language machine that uses its
alphabet set-up and selection of antennae to send out heavy musical
broadcasts, propaganda, and urgent text messages about foul weather and
geopolitical schisms.
A loosely affiliated menacing armada of eighteen black and blue dirigibles
covered with threatening insignia flying through bad weather in an
aggressive formation trying to find a place to land. They're hot under the
collar, low on patience, behaving erratically, and looking for trouble.
Six green weather balloon stations sponsored by well-meaning
humanitarian/scientific research groups perched on a red landing platform.
Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior R.I.P. in Davy Jones¹s Locker.
One 747 "Heavy Big Bird" stacked to the rafters with American Youth of
university age drinking and self-medicating to dramatic excess while
weathering air pockets on a bumpy trans-Atlantic flight piloted by an
astronaut and a well-known and much missed literary figure.
A triptych of Harry Beck inspired way-finding subway map diagrams
representing New York, London, and Paris.
Three photographs of object collections that tell stories illustrating the
answers to the questions: "Hey buster, what's in your pocket?" "How are we
going to get the message through to the front if all we have is this old
transistor radio?" and "Where did you learn the protocol for Moscow Rules,
on the Farm?"
A magnified handy hanging Morse code educational/learning instrument.
Two strange amorphous floating shapes with high visibility symbols and
incident recording sensors.
A full set of blue and red text messages warning wandering malcontents,
merchant marine types, wayfarers, and information merchants to STAN BAC --
adjust attitude -- fLaP yoUr fLaiR fLApS -- and STAN KLR.
Nathan Carter has recently been featured in group exhibitions including
"Level 5: The View from Here: Acquisitions since 2000," Tate Modern, London,
UK and 'Greater New York 2005,' PS1, Long Island City, NY. The artist had a
solo exhibition at Galerie Esther Schipper, Berlin, Germany in 2006 and
organized 'Fearless Vampire Killers,' Casey Kaplan, New York, 2005. In 2007,
Nathan Carter will have a solo exhibition at Da2 Center for Contemporary
Art, Salamanca, Spain and at Pilar Parra, Madrid, Spain where he will
simultaneously organize a group exhibition. The Final Runnings' 'Hella
Mega,' will tour Paris, San Antonio and one other location TBA. The artist
has recently been short listed for the 2006 International Painting Prize of
the of the Castello'n County Council, Spain and will show at the Museo de
Bellas Artes de Castello'n, Castellon, Spain next year.
Opning: november 16, 6pm
Casey Kaplan Gallery
525 West 21st Street