week 5- Tony Oursler

Tony Oursler experiments with installation works, using mainly video projection onto flat and 3 dimensional surfaces e.g. dolls, balls, architecture and living/mobile surfaces such as treetops and clouds of steam. According to the artists website he has been said to have 'freed the video image from the "box."...creating a hybrid of art and cinema'. He is regarded as one of the unique, revolutionary contemporary artists of modern times. The curatorial focus of Tony Ourslers works from the past two decades has been the human head. The works present the notion of the head as the ‘permeable center of consciousness’. His installations also address the ebb and flow of natural and mental elements e.g. light, smoke, thoughts, impulses, language, voice, memory- all of which interact with the central icon the human head. The artists installations are influenced by the artists interest in our information and media society and its effect. The elements listed previously are expressive of this interest as they use video technology as the central medium and create a strong relationship with humanity through the subject matter (the human head and in particular the eye). I imagine the artist uses public reaction from his engaging work to further his understanding of technological effect on human thought.
Ourslers’ work "Eyes" is fascinating as it evokes both a curiosity and understanding of thoughts entering and being exuded from the human eye. large blinking eyeballs are floating like independent planets in the universe; this installation ‘points to the eye as an anatomical analogue of our desire for escapism through technology’ according to the artists website. I understand this to mean that the eye has the potential to transport the mind; ironic really, as the audiences’ mind is literally transported as we view his work whilst his work simultaneously communicates this meaning. His work “Eyes” can be seen in the image below.

Number 7, Plus or Minus 2

Particular concepts of the enlightenment can be applied to Ourslers’ work. Using his multiple burning cigarettes projection form 2009 (image below) the ideologies of reason, empiricism, science, universalism and progress can all be discussed. Reason and rationality can be applied as the work is immediately striking to the viewers’ conscience; smoking is known to impact negatively on human health and whether the viewer is a smoker or non smoker the work makes one consider the actual value of smoking. Empiricism is the idea that facts about the natural world can be apprehended through sense organs. In this case we cannot smell the cigarettes but we can see the process of them burning and instinctually predict that the product will be ash, we also instinctually sense heat from the large PVC cigarettes though it is not physically being produced. The transformation of the burning cigarette into ash is literally a scientific one, but science is also apparent in the work as it brings to mind the effect of smoking on human health, an awareness that scientific research has validated and spread. Different brands of cigarettes from all over the world are displayed, creating the idea that smoking is a universal behavior; this hence makes the work universally relevant. Perhaps awareness of the negative effects of smoking on the human body will be spread by this work, hence lessening the number of worldwide smokers, this in itself would be progress.

Marlboro, Winston, Parliament, American Spirit, Salem, 2009

Dimensions variable. PVC tubes, video projection

Reference:

http://www.tonyoursler.com/individual_work_slideshow.php?navItem=work&workId=8&startDateStr=Feb.%206,%202010&subSection=Installations&allTextFlg=false&title=Number%207,%20Plus%20or%20Minus%202

Extract from: Hamilton, P. (1992). The Enlightenment and the birth of social science, in Hall, S. & Gieben B. (eds.), Formations of Modernity. Cambridge: Open University Press (pp. 21-22)

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.

reference: http://www.aucklandtriennial.com/artists/mahmoudbakhshi.asp

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/index.html

http://www.world-flags-symbols.com/_img_nations3/iran_coa.png

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.