calendario eventi  :: 

X

21/10/2003

John Gerrard

Gallery of Photography, Dublin

New Work in New Media

Young Irish artist John Gerrard has created an important body of radical and experimental work. It breaks new ground in our understanding of the time-honoured genre of portraiture. Gerrard's portraits are not photographs or videos, they are the new medium of realtime 3D objects, a kind of 'sculptural photography' or 'new cinema'.

These technologically sophisticated works offer a rigorous conceptual engagement with the fundamentals of portraiture. They are also a lot of FUN to experience and interact with.

The main work, entitled 'Portrait Diptych' presents a kind of impossible, responsive mirror: two portraits of the same androgynous character are presented on two pivoted touch-screens. The viewer can change their expressions - make them blink, frown or smile, for example. When the screens are turned to face one another, the two portrait characters interact.

In a delightful updating of the sense that painted portraits are watching us, Gerrard's 'Watchful Portrait' presents a young man who continually scans the gallery and responds to the presence of a viewer by following him/her with his gaze.

'Saddening Portrait' plays with the new temporal possibilities of 3D media: here, a portrait will progressively sadden in appearance over 100 years, beginning on the opening night of the show. This work is presented on a prototype device consisting of a mini PC, touchscreen and custom-designed housing. This solution is designed to allow works of this nature to be easily installed in domestic spaces. Indeed, this piece has already been purchased for a private collection.

On the upper level of the gallery, the artist has conceived of the entire space as a 'Viewing Platform' onto a photorealistic 3D landscape encircling the building. Gerrard's viewing platform presents illusionistic 'windows' onto the landscape which was commissioned from Martin Brunker, a virtual landscape specialist.

SEMINAR: Thursday November 27th at 2pm
The Gallery of Photography is delighted to confirm that Mr. Gerfried Stocker, Director of the Ars Electronica Centre in Linz, Austria, will give a presentation about the artistic potential of new media. John Gerrard will also talk about his work.
Places strictly limited, booking essential.

About the artist: John Gerrard, born 1974, Tipperary. Currently based in Dublin. Recently completed a long term artists residency in the world renowned Ars Electronica Futurelab in Austria. He has an MSc Multimedia (TCD); MA Fine Art (School of the Art Institute of Chicago); BA Sculpture (The Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art, Oxford). He has exhibited internationally with upcoming shows in Bejing, Singapore, Madrid and London He has received numerous awards and scholarships, including a Gallery of Photography Development Bursary for the work in this exhibition.

Exhibition opening supported by Becks.
Seminar supported by The Austrian Embassy, Dublin.

For further information, press scans or to arrange an interview with the artist: please contact Tanya Kiang, Gallery Director 01-6714654

or see http://www.johngerrard.net for more information.

Image: Detail from Portrait Diptych (Nadia) ©John Gerrard

Opening reception: Wednesday October 22 at 6.30pm

Exhibition continues until November 30th

Gallery of Photography
Meeting House Square
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel. +353-1 6714654
Fax. +353-1 6709293

stampa

permanent link