Sabbatique
dal 10/4/2008 al 10/5/2008
Segnalato da
10/4/2008
Sabbatique
Galeria Elba Benitez, Madrid
Alejandro Vidal & Saadane Afif. The exhibition proposes an approach that reassesses people in the light of their individuality, their power as individuals and the value of their own actions. Both artists, who are part of the same generation, have interests in common, and the influence of music, punk rock, raves and their respective styles have left a deep imprint on their work.
Curated by Jose' Castañal
Authoritarianism, escapism and automatic conformism, these are the mainmechanisms
set in motion when the individual confronts his or her fear of freedom and
self-insecurities. These mechanisms end up by leading to the loss of individuality,
to the destruction of the world in a last-ditch attempt to avoid yielding to it, and
to compliance to mediocracy. Sabbatique proposes an approach that reassesses people
in the light of their individuality, their power as individuals and the value of
their own actions.The artworks by Alejandro Vidal and Saâdane Afif reflect this
outlook; an idealand a way of thinking that are succinctly expressed by philosopher
Jacques Ranciére’s maxim “Liberty is not given, it is taken”.This places us at a
pivotal moment for this generation, in which both artists develop their respective
oeuvres in parallel, where the only valid approach is Action. Now that recent trends
analysing and dismembering all signs and systems have been superseded, the only
logical and effective option is to take action and directly confront the
establishment, seeking to fight for social change.
Both artists work towards this goal in a positive manner, embracing an individual
freedom that strives to break the borderlines that have been haphazardly imposed in
an alleged attempt to control and homogenize individual thought and action. They
deal with norms and conventions that affect the way we assimilate all sorts of
inputs that enter our bodies. We are forced by direct exposure to certain attitudes
and settings in the work of Alejandro Vidal and by the chaos and errors created by
Saâdane Afif in his installations to reconsider the validity of our current system
as the only possible option, whilst being simultaneously offered new ideological
proposals.
These artists, who are part of the same generation, have interests in common, and
the influence of music, punk rock, raves and their respective styles have left a
deep imprint on their work. The video “Pushing up the power” by Alejandro Vidal
shows how heaving raves, which are considered in many circles to be a process of
collective catharsis, may also be seen as an epiphanic ceremony in which the masses
surrender to the figure of a DJ who drives them to the rhythm of the beat. This
bodily abandon, combined with drug-taking, creates a group of beings striving to
liberate themselves in search of profound life experiences. Saâdane Afif portrays
the outcome of these experiences in installations such as “Oasis”. The artist
envisages them as the celebration of a morbid and pathological springtime, creating
tree-like assemblages from whose branchessprout fruits in the shape of syringes,
nature in turmoil. These works, like the catharsis of raves or an intellectual use
of drugs, transport us to a new reality where art serves as an ideal platform for
breaking boundaries and opening up new channels for dialogue with our society and
culture.Accordingly, Alejandro Vidal’s photographic works confront us with
depictions of powerfully effective settings and characters.
We contemplate a
situation full of energy and tension that we have no control over, and, though we
see no overt violence, the image seems to threaten us. It is a frontal attack on the
ideological conformity that dominates our way of looking at images. The ideal
setting for these situations is a neutral place, off the beaten track and
industrial. These places might be closer than we think. The distance between reality
and fiction is fine dividing-line that may only be set by each individual spectator.
Saâdane Afif, in contrast, proposes a type of setting that spectators must interact
with and explore. This narcotic garden manages to simultaneously mix the spectator’s
sense of curiosity and engagement with a sense of caution and detachment in light of
its harmful nature.
Sabbatique proposes a courageous active stance against the burnout caused by the
lies and conformity of our society.
“We are the middle children of history, with no purpose or place. We have no Great
War, or Great Depression. The Great War is a spiritual war. The Great Depression is
our lives. We were raised by television to believe that we'd be millionaires and
movie gods and rock stars – but we won't. And we're learning that fact. And we're
very, very pissed off. We are the quiet young men who listen until it's time to
decide.”(Tyler, The Fight Club, David Fincher, 1999)
Jose Castañal
Alejandro Vidal (Palma de Mallorca, Spain 1972) lives and works in Barcelona. He has
exhibited his work at numerous international centres such as Kunsthalle Winterthur
in Switzerland, Fundació La Caixa in Barcelona, Palazzo delle Papesse, Sienna;
Schrin Kunsthalle in Frankfurt and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Taipei. He took
part in the Biennial of Busan (South Korea) in 2006. Recently he has exhibited at
the Galeria Joan Prats in Barcelona and is preparing a solo show for the Galleria
Artra in Milan.
Saâdane Afif (Vendome, France, 1970) lives and works in Berlin. His latest
exhibitions include his participation at the XII Documenta in Kassel. His work has
been included in exhibitions at centres such as the Tate Modern in London, the
Centre Georges Pompidou and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He is currently preparing
a solo exhibition for the Witte de With Centre in Rotterdam, Holland
Opening Friday 11th April at 8Pm
Galeria Elba Benitez
San Lorenzo ,11 - 28004, Madrid
Free admission