All's Fair in Art and War:
Envisioning Conflict
October 2008 – March 1, 2009
street level gallery
"Artists are the visual, verbal and audio guardians of our collective
consciousness. Few can remember the politics or history of 18th century Europe,
but the music of Mozart and the paintings of Watteau continue to be a source of
inspiration. We might not always like the message, but it is artists that
distill the essence of an era."
— Robert Flynn Johnson
Gottfried Helnwein Catalogue for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
In our increasingly global community it is not a surprise that the art of our
time is engaged with nuances of political discourse. Much of politics is
concerned with the relationship of social and collective behavior which often
becomes inspiration for contemporary art.
Not bound to partisan perspectives or conventional aesthetics, the artists in
this exhibition exemplify the freedom and independence artists share that allow
them to provoke thought by any means necessary. Confronted with the thousands of
toy soldiers that make up Dave Cole's Memorial Flag, one can't help but
question the meaning of the flag and its symbolism in America today. Or when the
viewer steps through the menacing gates of Homeland Security by Jota
Castro, he or she becomes a participant and is challenged to question the
freedoms we sometimes take for granted. Tin-Kin Hung takes a less subjective
point of view of American politics when he casts the familiar faces of
politicians in his satirical animation. Ironically by reducing the seriousness
of global warming or the 2008 Presidential Election to cartoon animation, Hung
is able to bring to the forefront the absurdities often overlooked in mainstream
politics.
No subject is off limits for this international and local group of artists.
Artists like Wang Guangyi, Jose Toirac, Claire Fontaine and Olivier Blanckart
allow us to question the power of images and language and how they define our
lives.
Exhibited Works
- Olivier Blanckart (French), AlinSallal Abu Ghraib,
2006. PVC tape, craft paper, polyurethane coated custom silkscreen paint.
- Olivier Blanckart (French), Post-production (Kim),
2006. PVC tape, craft paper, polyurethane coated custom silkscreen paint.
- Olivier Blanckart (French), The Remix Saigon
(Saigon-Saitama), 1998. Scotch tape, craft paper, cardboard.
- Jota Castro (Peruvian), Homeland Security, 2008.
Steel, razor wire.
- Dave Cole (American), Memorial Flag, 2005. Acrylic on
panel with mixed media.
- Alain Declercq (French), Gun Safe, 2008. Adapted gun
safe.
- Al Farrow (American), Study for a Mosque Reliquary,
2001. Guns, bullets, 24k gold, steel.
- Claire Fontaine (French), Untitled (Identity, Sovereignty,
and Tradition), 2007. Flags, flag poles, fittings and dust.
- Gottfried Helnwein (Austrian), Untitled (Portrait of Child),
2005. Oil and acrylic on canvas.
- Shayne Hull (American), McCain (Hesitation), 2008.
Enamel on panel.
- Shayne Hull (American), Obama (The Joker), 2008.
Enamel on panel.
- Kenneth Tin Kin Hung (Chinese), Because Washington is
Hollywood for Ugly People, 2006-7. Single channel video with sound, running
time 7:38 minutes.
- Kenneth Tin Kin Hung (Chinese), Gas Zappers, 2007.
Single channel video with sound, running time 5:00 minutes.
- Fay Ku (Taiwanese), Return to Camp (from the War Series),
2006. Graphite on gray paper.
- Fay Ku (Taiwanese), Snared (from the War Series),
2006. Graphite on gray paper.
- Fay Ku (Taiwanese), Tiger Forest II (from
the War Series), 2006. Graphite on gray paper.
- Rachel Ann Mason (American), The Ambassadors, 2006.
Porcelain, painted political figures.
- Nick Owens (Louisvillian), McSurgency, 2008. Acrylic on canvas.
Courtesy of the artist and Art Ecology Gallery, Louisville.
- Nick Owens (Louisvillian), Phasers on Stun, 2008. Acrylic on
canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Art Ecology Gallery, Louisville.
- Bruno Peinado (French), Untitled, ErRorschach Test,
2005. Black vinyl.
- Miguel Angel Rojas (Colombian), Caqueta, 2007. Single
channel video, running time 7:38 minutes.
- Jose Toirac (Cuban), Fidel con Nina (Gray Series),
2004. Oil on canvas.
- Jose Toirac (Cuban), A Brief History of Cuba as Told by
Other Things #7: Bayer, 2001. Oil on canvas.
- Jose Toirac (Cuban), A Brief History of Cuba as Told by
Other Things #8: Apple, 2001. Oil on canvas.
- Jose Toirac (Cuban), A Brief History of Cuba as Told by
Other Things #10: Pioneer, 2001. Oil on canvas.
Blind Spot: the customized Art Car by Monica Mahoney
Auction bidding through eBay
June 2 through June 12
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exhibition details
The Photographs of Dominic Rouse
November 17 – January 12, 2008
in the garage street level gallery
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exhibition details
All's Fair in Art and War:
Envisioning Conflict
October 2008 – January 2009
street level gallery
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exhibition details
Photo/Synthesis: James Baker Hall
September 2008 – April 2009
in the atrium, galleries 1 & 3
Opening reception Thursday September 4, 6pm
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exhibition details
New Acquisitions and Highlights
Opened February 2, 2007 – ongoing exhibition
atrium gallery
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exhibition details