Oil On Water Calming Effect
Cory Arcangel, Mikkel Carl, Luca Frei, Yngve Holen, Christian Jeppsson, Morten Norbye Halvorsen, Rasmus Høj Mygind, Rolf Nowotny, Sandra Vaka Olsen, Aude Pariset, Tove Storch, Torben Ribe, Jessica Warboys
Skur2, Stavanger
25.5.-24.6.12
Group exhibition of installations, prints, drawings, paintings, photos - all related to oil, water or both
The exhibition is arranged by Sandra Vaka Olsen and Rasmus Høj Mygind in the great space Skur 2 on the seafront in downtown Stavanger. From this location the sea is very present, and the passing offshore ships are reminders of the economical importance of oil. This is probably why the exhibition is inspired by oil, water, and their effect on each other. Or rather just the calming effect of oil on waves, not the effect of water on oil (which is probably quite limited) or the pollutional effect of oil on water (which is massive).
In some works the connection is obvious through the direct use of water or in oil-based products. Everything seems to be made by oil, like plastic, synthetic material, even oil paint. Water is present, like in the plastic (made by oil) tubes, or remarkably missing, as in the installation "Parasagittal Brain" of empty water containers.
Rasmus Høj Mygind: Untitled
Water life represented by frogs and fishes are trapped on plastic tape glued onto a mirror. Or actually backwards taped on, because what we see is the reflection of the front side. Is the tape or the mirror most important here? A mirror without the tape would have been quite boring, unless you have narcissistic tendencies.
Sandra Vaka Olsen: Drop Horizon
A weird pattern of multiple colours, with some kind of drop structure. This seems to be a similar technique to her photo "Pixel drops (Stromboli)" at the group exhibition
"Arcadia" at Rogaland Kunstsenter last August? Then she photographed water drops on a tv screen. Here the drops are magnified to become enormous. The color effect in each drop has become visible.
Yngve Holen: Parasagittal Brain
In this installation water containers are split in halves. As the term "parasagittal" denotes a splitting of a human body in two halves, the containers are split. This is revealing the large volume dedicated for water and a small volume dedicated to electronics, heating or cleaning. Just like the human body is mostly water, just a small portion of brain, nerves and organs.
Aude Pariset: Learning from Development
The plastic tubes are controlling the water. Outside the tube the amounts of water would become a flat poodle on the floor, but inside tubes water become pillars. The printed materials inside may seem important, especially as it is magnified by the water, but actually their greatest purpuse is to make us aware of the water present. Without the papers we would not have noticed the water.
Cory Arcangel: A few casuals
These boots are NOT made for walking. They seem comfy enough, which is their main purpose. When the Ugg boots are made uncomfortable, what is left? Inside is put lead bars, which makes it hard to put your feet in, and if you do, it will be quite hard walking. And the oil/water connection here? They are made of synthetic material based on oil. But actually here water is the crucial factor, as rain and mud pools will probably destroy the boots.
