|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR RELEASE: June 13, 2005
Beginning in July, Extreme Abstraction Will Celebrate the Continuing Vitality of Abstraction as it Adapts to the 21st Century
Recent Works to be Integrated with Gallery's Abstract Masterpieces
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Albright-Knox Art Gallery – building on its long and rich tradition of collecting and exhibiting significant abstract art – will bring together some of the most dynamic forms of abstraction being created today in a wide-ranging exhibition this summer.
Extreme Abstraction, opening July 15 and on view through October 2, will highlight a selection of distinguished international artists who continue to push this art form’s outer limits. Among the contemporary artists to be represented are Polly Apfelbaum, Ingrid Calame, Arturo Herrera, Damien Hirst, Liam Gillick, Katharina Grosse, Jim Isermann, David Reed, and Franz West.
The contemporary works include 18 site-specific installations, 11 of which were commissioned especially for the Albright-Knox, many recent acquisitions, and a selection of loaned works from private collections, dealers, and artists.
Works in all media – including installation, painting, sculpture, photography, and video – will be included.
"Extreme Abstraction investigates and rejoices in the continuing vitality of this dynamic, adventuresome, and highly unique artistic language – the quintessential development in modern art – as it adapts to the 21st century," said Associate Curator Claire Schneider, who organized the exhibition with Albright-Knox Director Louis Grachos.
The Albright-Knox commissioned several artists for site-specific installations.
Extreme Abstraction will include several of the Albright-Knox’s 20th century abstract masterworks, such as Jackson Pollock’s Convergence, 1952 (above), integrated with contemporary abstract works. At left is Katharina Grosse's Untitled, 2002.
Artists Grosse, Herrera, Isermann, ChanSchatz, Eva Rothschild, Adrian Schiess, and Leo Villareal have been commissioned to create new works for the Albright-Knox, Schneider said. The exhibition also features a number of recent acquisitions of contemporary abstraction, including works by Polly Apfelbaum, David Batchelor, Linda Besemer, Karin Davie, Liam Gillick, Gregory Kucera, Liz Larner, Sarah Morris, David Reed, and Clare Woods.
In a unique approach to a contemporary art survey, the Albright-Knox will strategically integrate classic examples of abstraction from its collection among the contemporary works. Abstract masterpieces by ground-breaking 20th century artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Arshile Gorky, Wassily Kandinsky, and Piet Mondrian will be featured.
"Showing contemporary abstraction side by side with established abstract masterworks will provide unique and exciting opportunities to view old and new work in new ways," Schneider said. ”These
older works will generate new meanings and speak across time.”
Grachos said the Albright-Knox, which has spent more than two years organizing the exhibition, is an ideal venue.
“The Albright-Knox was one of the first art museums to collect abstract art, amassing a renowned collection of 20th century works, especially post-World War II abstract expressionism thanks to the foresight of former Director Gordon Smith and Gallery patron Seymour Knox Jr." Grachos said. "The museum has continued to passionately and vigorously collect important abstract art.”
In all, Extreme Abstraction will feature more than 150 works by nearly as many artists. The large scope of this exhibition means it will be presented throughout the entire Albright-Knox campus, filling all the museum’s spaces with light and color– from the original Greek revival 1905 building to the international-style 1962 addition designed by Gordon Bunshaft, as well as its indoor sculpture court, outdoor sculpture garden, and other outside areas.
"We are integrating the art with the Albright-Knox's great architecture so it will interact directly with the building in many cases," Schneider said. "There will certainly be installations in some surprising places."
For example, Leo Villareal was commissioned to design a light installation for the black-window wall that overlooks the Sculpture Garden and Jim Isermann has created geometric-patterned floor mats for the Gallery vestibule. A colorful video by Jennifer Steinkamp will be projected on the floor in another area of the museum.
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s renowned collection of abstract art has been the subject of two other major exhibitions of mid-century abstraction: Abstract Expressionism: The Critical Developments in 1987 and Abstraction. Geometry. Painting: Selected Geometric Abstract Painting in America since 1945 in 1989. Extreme Abstraction extends this examination of abstract art into the 21st century by creating a dialogue between contemporary works and historical masterworks.
"Contemporary abstraction is marked by adventurous use of materials, hybridization of media, subtle humor, and compulsion to engage the viewer’s entire sensorial responses. Still, these works hold fast to characteristics at the heart of abstraction, which has a 100-year history – a desire to describe the world free of narrative and representational imagery, an urge to capture poetic approximations of experience, and an openness to a variety of voices," Schneider said.
"As a field that relies almost exclusively on form, color, and material to represent ideas and convey feelings, its history is built upon looking to new structures, new elements, and new technologies for inspiration. The most adventurous abstraction from the last 10 years includes not only painting or sculpture, but also unusual hybrid objects and all-absorbing environments that call upon installation, design, video, conceptual art, and appropriation art."
Unique works include Roxy Paine’s painting machine, PMU/Painting Manufacturing Unit/ from 1999-2000; a magnificent and complex velvet floor painting by Polly Apfelbaum, Reckless, 1998; Liam Gillick’s multi-colored cube sculpture, Stacked Revision Structure, a commission which will be located outside on the Gallery grounds; and a futuristic oversized sculpture by Liz Larner that seems to change shape and color is the focal point of the Sculpture Court.
Pae White, a noted artist who reconsiders modernist design, is creating a special artists’ book that will document the artists’ work and capture the spirit of the exhibition. An audio guide for adults and youths will also be available.
The John R. Oishei Foundation has generously provided lead sponsorship support.
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission fees are $10 adults; $8 students and senior citizens; free for children 13 and under. The Gallery is free on Fridays for the “Gusto at the Gallery” program from 3 to 10 p.m.
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery enjoys a worldwide reputation as an outstanding center of modern and contemporary art. Its permanent collection, which includes works by most of the great artists of the late 19th and the 20th centuries, has been cited as one of the world’s top international surveys of modern and contemporary painting and sculpture. Additional information about the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is available at www.albrightknox.org.
Note to Editors: Images of exhibition works are available upon request.
AGENCY CONTACT: Glen White 716-831-1500 Ext. 307
Carr Marketing Communications gawhite@carrmarketing.com