A summary of two exhibitions I went to. Both features installations or artworks that involves movement.
United Visual Artists at Other Spaces
Our Time, with music from Mira Calix is the one I like most. At first glance, I thought they are drones flying but actually they are lights swinging from a really high ceiling. The lights move with the sound almost like a choreographed performance. It was simple and beautiful.
There’s something magical about a dark room with something the viewers need to figure out. The simplest, most quiet pieces are usually the most interesting ones for me.
Another work called “Vanishing Point” is inspired by the Renaissance perspective tool. Interestingly, the work turns out quite retro-scifi even though the starting point comes from the eras of Davinci. Couldn’t help but think that this laser installation which fools the eye of the viewer can be utilised in a show/concert. Seems fitting.
Nam June Paik at Tate
Went to see Nam June Paik at Tate Modern. Very interesting exhibition. I’m impressed by the diversity of his mediums and subjects. It feels all over the place but in a good way. I want to explore many things like him.
I love the simplicity in a lot of his works and how it is displayed in the exhibition. Using his necktie to paint was also very interesting because if you think about it: anything can be a brush.
This piece is interactive as you use a tool to drag across the lines on the wall and create sounds from them. It is very fascinating how an old interactive piece can be re-install many years later and still serves the same function and presents the same ideas. Must’ve taken a lot of work.
I found myself looking at the structures and how the works are being displayed rather than the content itself because somehow it acts as an artwork as well. The massive structure of projectors are set up to fill the room but it creates a sculpture with its own characters.
Nam June Paik is really good at combining digital media with physical things almost like a hybrid and so ahead of his time.
td @ ual 