John Beech
dal 14/2/2008 al 19/4/2008
Segnalato da
14/2/2008
John Beech
CCNOA Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art, Bruxelles
NOHOW. A large site-specific installation. Using the humblest of materials, from car floor mats to raw plywood, the artist creates objects that are at the same time rough-hewn and elegant, intricately designed and straightforward, dead serious and subtly humorous. His work straddles the categories of painting and sculpture.
CCNOA center for contemporary non-objective art is announcing the presentation of a large site-specific installation entitled NOHOW by British/American artist John Beech in the main space.
Using the humblest of materials, from car floor mats to raw plywood, Beech creates objects that are at the same time rough-hewn and elegant, intricately designed and straightforward, dead serious and subtly humorous. His work straddles the categories of painting and sculpture. Beech is interested in "the object quality of things." He is interested in letting the form and materials demonstrate themselves. Another important element in Beech’s work is his choice of materials. "I’m interested in fusing the visual vocabulary of utility and abstract art," he says. Ordinary objects such as dumpsters and patched subway platforms catch his eye and provide the basis for nuanced works of art. He acknowledges the influence of contemporary masters such as Donald Judd, but sees his own aesthetic as "street level" and engaged, as opposed to the polish and detachment of many reductionists.
His aim is to take the ordinary and create an extraordinary experience for the viewer. Spontaneity is essential for Beech. A piece may change radically during the process of fabrication; accidents and obstacles are viewed as opportunities rather than sources of irritation. In his view, letting go of expectations can often lead to something much more interesting than the original conception. This easy attitude meshes well with Beech’s attraction to things that are odd, edgy, even a bit awkward. The combination imparts a subtle humor to many of his works, an attitude that nudges us to realize that art can be made (sometimes even unconsciously) of the most ordinary of materials, materials that we see around us all the time but usually fail to recognize as art.
CCNOA Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art
Blvd Barthelemylaan 5 - Brussels
Hours: Friday - Sunday, 2 - 6 pm & by appointment.
Admission free