virtualwallworld: March 2011

20 March 2011

Ustabile variabler

(Unstable variables)
Kjell Varvin
Galleri Gann, Sandnes
2o.2.-3.4.11

Galleri Gann offer large rooms with both sales exhibition and special exhibitions. At the moment there is a very interesting exhibition of sculptures by Kjell Varvin.

The artist must have had a lot of fun making these installations. He must have enjoyed choosing which object to use and where to put it. When other would have considered many of these objects as trash and leftovers, they become important objects in Varvin's eyes. He has also had the opportunity to make in 3D the optical illusions I used to draw as a youngster. These are intricate geometrical sculptures in welded metal, some painted, some not. The third category are impossible installations, balancing, seeming like they could fall down any time.

The love of the material, the unstability and the playfulness is easy to sense through the objects.

Here are some views:

Kjell Varvin makes a lot of these improvised sculptures. Many can be viewed here

Galleri Gann webpage here

Nordlicht

Ulrich Vogl (GE)
Galleri Opdahl, Stavanger
4.3.-10.4.11

This is the first exhibition of Ulrich Vogl in Norway. I am thrilled the first exhibition is in Stavanger, "Nordlicht" (Northern Lights) is really enjoyable.

The first work I meet is "Nine Clouds and a Cage". A cage on the wall contains nine aluminium foil clouds, lit by a warming lamp. The clouds are moving randomly according to the draft. They are caged, but the doors are open. One actually tried to get out but changed its mind when I was there. Maybe the safety in the cage is better than the outside. After all they are warmed by the cosy lamp that usually keep eggs warm before hatching.

Ulrich Vogl: Nine Clouds and a Cage. Picture from www.galleriopdahl.no

The aluminium clouds are also present in the next piece, "Of Islands and Clouds". A giant dreamweaver with clouds move softly, casting shadows on a landscape of sugar islands. They are in constant movement, there will always be some kind of air movement or draft in the venue. A fisheye mirror make sure you are always a part of the installation whereever you are standing watching it.

Ulrich Vogl: Of Islands and Clouds. Picture from www.galleriopdahl.no

And now to my favourite: "The Pool". An installation of a small mirror-bottomed pool with plants on the edge, moved by the draft from a fan, lit by a strong lamp. But the major artwork is not this. The lamp and mirrors create a reflection on the wall. On this all the installation, but also the invisible is visible. The moving plants are silhouetted, but the pool shape is distorted by the angle. And the ripples on the water create shadow formations on the background on the projected image.

Ulrich Vogl: The Pool. Picture from www.galleriopdahl.no

"Room" bring the glamour of a royal palace to the gray, rainy streets of Stavanger. Or is it the other way around? The lens-shaped picture of the interior of the Versailles(?) is in stark contrast to the surroundings, but at the same time it tries to be a part of it. On the other hand, the work is easily moved to another environment, creating a different contrast.

Ulrich Vogl: Room. Picture from www.galleriopdahl.no

This is an exhibition you should not miss. It is one of the exhibitions that makes me happy also after walking out the door.

19 March 2011

Malmö FF

Malmö FF
(fast forward)
Skur 2, Stavanger
24.2.-3.4.11
Carl Boutard, Mathias Kristersson, EvaMarie Lindahl, Maria Lusitano Santos, Mattias Nordéus, Viktor Rosdahl.

I am thrilled to see the great venue of Skur 2 is finally used for art exhibitions again, even if it only once. This is an exhibition of Swedish artists from Malmö. Nordéus has presented his work in Stavanger before, at the exhibition "The Ballad of Materialism".

Carl Boutard: Sculpture
Not only a sculpture based on seeds and plants. On display was also a lot of sketches and models of how he has gathered information of seeds and incorporated it into one sculpture.

Mattias Kristersson: !ÄR DU? (are you?)
A sound installation asking a lot of personal questions. At first it is fun being asked if I am tall, if i am funny and so on, then it becomes rather annoying, asking if I am greedy, filthy or narrow minded.

Mathias Kristersson: Brev (letter)
A video of a letter being written. But every word is written on top of each other. The letter is unreadable. Already after the first word "Hello" it gets difficult to read the words.

Mathias Kristersson: SPINA
An installation made of book spines. All the books are represented by their spine, the part where all the pages are bound together. The books are impossible to read, but are they still books?

Mattias Nordéus: The Colonel
An officer carried by soldiers.

Mattias Nordéus: Zone of the Enders
Each soldier has a unique face.

Streetart in NY

Here are some few highlights from NY, both from Manhattan and Brooklyn. Link to more pictures at the end of the post.

Shepard Fairey

Faile

Roa

Nick Walker

Chris Stain

Skewville

Lots of more pictures here

White at .NO

White
Contemporary Norwegian Art in NYC
(from the series blue|white|red)
gallery .NO, NYC
Kurt Johannessen, Anki King, Lars Strandh, Björn Hegardt, Finn Graff, Kristin Skrivervik, Lotte Konow Lund, Ane Graff, Sol Kjøk, Rune Olsen
4.-30.3.11

I was very happy to attend the vernissage of this Norwegian gallery during my stay in New York. The place was packed with people, and as the performance started, it was actually quite difficult for the artist to move through the crowd without hurting somebody.

The theme of the exhibition was White, which was the major colour in the works. Apart from that, there was a wide range of techniques. A great show. I only wish I could see the other two exhibitions themed by the colours of the Norwegian flag. Blue was the first one, Red will be the last.

Here are some highlights from the opening:

Björn Hegardt: Continous City II

Sol Kjøk: Waiting for the Sun

Kristin Skrivervik: Silence of Future

Performance by Agnes Nerdregård

15 March 2011

Fountain art fair, NY

Fountain art fair
March 3–6, 2011
Pier 66 Maritime @ 26th Street & 12th Avenue in Hudson River Park, aka The Frying Pan

Here are some highlights from the low-brow Fountain art fair in New York:

The venue, in a tent on a barge by the pier. It was rocking as other boats passed.

Some pieces from the giant mural that was made for the art fair:

Chris Stain

Elle

Gaia

Interior view at Fountain art fair

Political art: the Mubarak code

More political art: hunting Sarah Palin

One of the memorable performances

A silence performance on the deck of the barge

Scope art fair, NY

320 West St (West Side Hwy) Across from Pier 40 on the Hudson River | NYC
3.-6.3.11

Here are some highlights from Scope art fair in New York:

Typoe: Fountain
The signature piece of Scope art fair. A sculpture made of broken, used spray can caps. Fantastic work!

Shi Jindian: White Shadow
A bicycle made of coloured stainless steel wire

AES+F
It was great to see these guys' work again, saw a large piece in Beijing and really liked it

Thomas Barbey: Oh Sheet!!!
Fantastic idea, well done, lame title

work by How and Nosm
I was amazed to see a much larger piece by these artists in the streets of Williamsburg. I will post that later.

TrustoCorp: Frosted Faith / Banko$
Giant size cereal boxes with either a mix of religion or banks

work by Pablo Lehmann
great miniature work

Interior from the art fair

Weird installation, where later a legendary performance took place, I heard. Something about sausages.

work by Johnston Foster

Marck: Diving Dyptichon
Installations on a video screen

Island6: Shaolin Monk
I really like these guys, saw their installations at Red Gate Gallery in Beijing this winter. Sorry about the angle and the reflections on the photo