|
Saturday, June 24, 2006 - Sunday, September 10, 2006
On Saturday, June 24, 2006 the Center for Curatorial Studies (CCS) at Bard College will present its most ambitious and far-reaching exhibition to date, Uncertain States of America: American Art in the 3rd Millennium. This survey of recent developments in American contemporary art is organized by three of Europe's leading curators: Daniel Birnbaum, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Gunnar Kvaran. In contrast to the recent Whitney Biennial, which sought to expand its program beyond the United States to incorporate many artists from Europe and elsewhere, including artists from many generations, Uncertain States is decidedly American in scope and youthful in outlook. In fact, of the more than 40 artists represented, over 90 percent were born after 1970 and most are in their early to mid 30s. First shown at the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo last October, the exhibition comprises a remarkably succinct compilation of recent evolutions in painting, sculpture, and video that, in the context of the recent Whitney Biennial, seems particularly prescient and compelling.
Uncertain States offers an expanded look at a series of major installations by an emerging generation of artists whose source material derives from a media-saturated world and a canny knowledge of new art-historical references (from Richard Prince and Christopher Wool, among others) in an age of political dissonance and free-form use of material innovations and juxtapositions. Arthur Danto, reviewing the show in Norway for Artforum, suggested that a propensity for surrealism pervades this work, but that a raw sense of experimentation and a tangibly alternative outlook, both politically and qualitatively, also resounds throughout the exhibition.
Uncertain States is the result of an extensive, two-year, research project by the curators, who conducted more than 500 studio visits throughout the United States, compiling over 2000 files on young American artists. Their selections reflect an astute, yet contentious, assessment of the current state of American art and culture. "The exhibition is not entirely American—influences come from everywhere," state Birnbaum, Kvaran, and Obrist. "In a period where the official political culture of the United States is viewed with great skepticism on the other side of the Atlantic, it seems important to remind ourselves of this complexity. The 'Uncertain States of America' are not only uncertain, they are many."
For the Center for Curatorial Studies, the exhibition will be completely reconfigured to include new works by the selected artists, a survey of contemporary independent cultural and art publications, specially commissioned performances, new outdoor installations, and public discussions.
The exhibition is on view from Saturday, June 24, through Sunday, September 10. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The opening reception is on Saturday, June 24, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both the reception and exhibition are free and open to the public.
The Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard is the only venue in the United States for this exhibition. In the fall, the exhibit will travel to the Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland, and the video works will be on view at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. In 2007, the exhibit will travel to The Herning Art Museum in Herning, Denmark.
The Artists Presented in the Exhibition
Allora & Calzadilla; Edgar Arceneaux/Rodney McMillian; Devendra Banhart; Frank Benson; Mike Bouchet; Matthew Brannon; Anthony Burdin; Paul Chan; Sean Dack; Trisha Donnelly; Jim Drain; Piero Golia; Hannah Greely; Taft Green; Guyton\Walker; Karl Haendel; Christian Holstad; Shane Huffman; Jiae Hwang; Matthew Day Jackson; Matt Johnson; Miranda July; Nate Lowman; Daria Martin; Matt McCormick; Ohad Meromi; Kori Newkirk; Seth Price; Adam Putnam; Cristina Lei Rodriguez; Matthew Ronay; Mika Rottenberg; Aïda Ruilova; Paul Sietsema; Josh Smith; Mika Tajima; TM Sisters; Jordan Wolfson; Mario Ybarra Jr.; Aaron Young.
About the Curators
- Daniel Birnbaum is rector of the Städelschule Art Academy and director of Portikus, both in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Gunnar B. Kvaran is director of the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo, Norway.
- Hans Ulrich Obrist is codirector of exhibitions and programs and director of international projects at the Serpentine Gallery in London, and has curated exhibitions at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Kunsthalle in Vienna, Deichtor-Hallen in Hamburg, and other institutions.
For further information about the exhibition, call the Center for Curatorial Studies at 845-758-7598 or e-mail ccs@bard.edu
Selection of Images from the Exhibition
|
Aaron Young
Never Work (five circles, Heiser), 2005
Silkscreen on canvas
54 x 54 inches
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Aaron Young
Freedom Fries, 2005
Digital video
4 min.
Courtesy of Harris Lieberman, New York
|
|
Adam Putnam
Untitled (corner), 2002
Cyanotype
11 x 14 inches
Private Collection
|
|
Adam Putnam
Untitled (sundial), 2002-05
Mixed media: mirror, paper, wire, spotlight (75W)
Dimensions variable
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Aïda Ruilova
It had no feelings, 2003
DVD projection with sound
3:30 min.
Courtesy of the artist and Greenberg Van Doren Gallery and Salon 94, New York
|
|
Allora & Calzadilla
Under Discussion, 2005
Single chanel video projection with sound, DVD
6:22 min.
Courtesy Lisson Gallery, London and Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris
|
|
Anthony Burdin,
VOODOO ROOM, OSLO, 2005
Mixed media
Courtesy of the artist and maccarone inc., New York
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Christian Holstad
Freeplay, 2005
Jukebox with erased newsprint drawing and lightning bug
67 x 30 x 24 inches
Courtesy of the artist and Daniel Reich Gallery, NYC
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Cristina Lei Rodriguez
Untitled (autumn frost on geranium bush), 2005
Plastic, foam, paint and selected objects
18 x 18 x 40 inches
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
Untitled (sultry bamboo in summer rain), 2005
Plastic, foam, paint and selected objects
48 x 38 x 77 inches
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
Untitled (early snow on rhododendron), 2005
Plastic, foam, paint and selected objects
43 x 39 x 56 inches
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Daria Martin
Soft Materials, 2004
16 mm., sound
10:30 min.
Courtesy of the artist, commissioned by The Showroom, London.
|
|
Devendra Banhart
Untitled, Big Ears
Untitled, Cells
Untitled, Hand in Mouth
|
|
Edgar Arceneaux
Negative Capability. The Michael Jackson Project, 2004
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Installation view 1 & 2
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
EdgarArceneaux/Rodney McMillian
The Michael Jackson Project, 2004
Courtesy of Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects
|
|
Frank Benson
A Portrait of the Artist's Mother, 2004
Bronze, urethane, oil paint, found object, laminated base
63,5 x 38,1 x 40,6 cm
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Frank Benson
Swan Gourd, 2005
Cast plastic, oil paint, frame sample, polyurethane
54,61 x 29,21 x 16,51 cm
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Guyton \ Walker
Dear Ketel One Drinker
Hello again.
The Failever of Judgement
Part IV.
2005
Silkscreen and digital inkjet print on canvas, paint cans
Dimensions variable
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Installation views 1 & 2
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Hannah Greely
Muddle, 2004
Coconut fiber, silicon glue
23,50 x 109,22 x 71,12 cm
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Hannah Greely
Alice, 2004
Polyester resin, wire, string, sculpey, paint
3 x 3 x 17 inches
Collection of Craig Robins, Miami
|
|
Jim Drain
Untitled, 2005
Mixed media sculpture
243,8 x 132,1 x 121,9 cm
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Josh Smith
Untitled, 2005
Mixed media mounted on wood
36 x 48 inches
Private Collection
|
|
Karl Haendel
Shrink Group, 2004-2005
Hauser & Wirth Collection, Switzerland
Untitled (Zebras), 2004
Pencil on paper
76 x 53 inches
New Yorker Cartoon #8, 2004
Pencil on paper
51 x 64 inches
New Yorker Cartoon #15, 2004
Pencil on paper
22 x 30 inches
A line (circular), 2004
Pencil on paper
30 x 22 inches
My Shrink's Dog, 2005
Pencil on paper
60 x 50 inches
|
|
Karl Haendel
Eyes Group, 2003-2004
Hauser & Wirth Collection, Switzerland
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
Bob Dylan in White Face (1975-76 Rolling Thunder review Tour) [ghost version], 2004
C-print
40 x 52 x 2 inches
Live near salt water?, 2004
Pencil on board
76 x 52 x 2 inches
LAAC #4, 2004
Pencil on paper
43 x 28 x 2 inches
Scribble #2 [ghost version], 2004
C-Print
40 x 52 x 2 inches
Drawing from the Past #1, 2004
Pencil and charcoal on paper
95 x 72 x 3 inches
Dumb drawing, 2003
pencil on paper
30 x 22 inches
Fallen exclamation point #6, 2004
Pencil on paper
30 x 22 inches
Fallen exclamation point #5, 2004
Pencil on paper
30 x 22 inches
|
|
Kori Newkirk
Haywood, 2002-2003
Lambda print
64 x 48 inches
Private Collection
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
|
|
Mario Ybarra jr.
Dance to the beat of a different drum machine, 2005
Intallation with Los Angeles Rave Party Fliers dating 1991-1995,
video "misbeHaven" approx. 15 min and cassettes for listening.
Fliers and music courtesy of collection of Haven Perez
Installation view: Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo
Installation view 1& 2
Photograph: Fin Serck-Hanssen
Detail 2: Photograph: Tom Henning Bratlie
|
|
Matt Johnson
Plastic Sculpture, 2000
Cast plastic, oil
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Matt Johnson
Endless Ice Sculpture, 2004
Cast plastic, cotton, glass
Approx. 19 x 4 x 4 inches
Courtesy of Taxter and Spengemann Gallery, New York
|
|
Matt McCormick
The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal, 2001
DVD projection with sound
16:00 min.
Courtesy of the artist
|
|
Matthew Brannon
Polluted Minds & Open Wounds, 2005
Silkscreen on paper
30 x 40 inches / 70 x 100 cm
Edition of 3
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Matthew Brannon
Public Breakup & Career Backlash, 2005
Silkscreen on paper
30 x 40 inches / 70 x 100 cm
Edition of 3
Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo
|
|
Matthew Day Jackson
Don't Tread On Me, 2005
Earth Day flag, Naval Jack flag & tree branch
Approx. 66 x 42 x 16 inches
167,6 x 106,7 x 40,6 cm
Ed. 3 of 3
Private Collection
|
|
back to top
|
|
