1. The themes behind the title "Last ride...' for the Auckland triennial are...
-the relationship between adventure and risk taking in contemporary art today. this includes nz contemporary art and international artists' aswell.
-the title "last ride in a hot air balloon" is speculative rather than descriptive- this comment translates that the works will not necessarily be literal but will be more open to individual perception.
-what adventure means and the risks related.
2. A curator of an exhibition...
-acts as a host of sorts. A guide that traces the basic themes and ideas in the exhibition.
3. Which countries are represented in this year's triennial?
-a deliberate selection that includes asia and the middle east.
-the "natural access" between the northern and southern hemisphere.
-strong focus on nz contemporary art and upcoming young artists whos work expresses the sense of adventure in the theme.
4. Is Auckland the only country to have a triennial? Are there other similar art shows?
-there are/have been similar exhibitions in italy (Torino Triennale), Australia (16th Biennale Sydney), Venice (52nd Biennale), South Korea (7th Gwangju Biennial). Interestingly the titles of other similar exhibitions indicate a focus on spatial art and locomotion...e.g. Slow Movement, Forms that Turn, Momentum 12.
5. Name 4 artists who will be showing work in the show.
Nick Austen- Born 1979 Whangarei. works in nz
Philippe Parreno- Born 1964 Oran, Algeria. works in france.
Jorge Macchi- Born 1963 Buenos Aires, Argentina. works in Buenos Aires.
Tino Sehgal- Born 1976 London, England. works in Berlin, Germany.
6. Select an artist's work from the website, copy the work to your blog and write a shortcomment on what the work is, and what it represents.(Reference your sources)
Mahmoud Bakhshi, Tulips Rise from the Blood of the Nation's Youth, 2008, neon, tin, wood, plastic, electric engines, courtesy of the artist and Khastoo Gallery, Los Angeles.
This work is a reflection of the political and social issues of modern day Iran, his home country. The symbol is mimicing the Iranian coat of arms, which he connects to the violence and blood shed in Iran during recent protests against the government. the fact that the symbol is refered to as a tulip almost suggests new growth and life which is interesting as the title suggests the work is a product of trauma.
7. Comment on why you find this work interesting, how does it relate to your own interests?
I think the work is interesting because it has high contrast; the fact that the space in which it is being displayed is dark shows an awareness of the context of the work. the darkness not only increases the glow of the work but it is suggestive that the work is a product of 'dark' times and most definately controversial times. this i find really interesting. The first impression of the work was that it resembled a Scottish thistle, a strong symbol of a completely unrelated country to the actual subject. I was intrigued by the title and found out it was actually the Iranian coat of arms. I was surprised that two completely different contexts could share such a similar symbol. The Iranian coat of arms is below. I find it really appealing that a work which carries violent connotations did not have to be violent and offensive in nature to communicate a message but did so through curiosity stirred by its beauty.
