Martian Life

Barry McGee Untitled



Katja Strunz


Thomas Hirschorn Cavemanman

David Shrigley

Haegue Yang


Fischli/Weiss

Apichatpong Weerasethakul Unknown Forces

Noguchi Rika

Mike Kelley Kandor

And a bit of the miniatures collection...


I am lucky enough to visit Pittsburgh while the Carnegie International (the second oldest international in the world) was on. This one was curated by Douglas Fogle and is called Life on Mars and poses such questions as:

Are we alone in the universe? Do aliens exist? Or are we, ourselves, the strangers in our own worlds?

Claudia is also lucky enough to be writing a thesis on this particular exhibition. So really, she should be writing this blog entry. As she is sitting next to me (writing said thesis) she muses:

"I guess it's about not recognising the reflection of ourselves...having something projected back at you and not understanding it as yourself, when it really is. Confronting ourselves with a reality that is less than ideal and maybe unrecognisable to what we think we are. Holding a mirror up to ourselves and presenting us with a reflection that we may not recognise but is a truer representation of ourselves than we may wish to acknowledge."

So the exhibition explores the notion of the spectacle (fantasy vs reality), the flaws of being human as well as how and what it is to be human in the world today with each artist giving individual takes on the human condition.

But did this exhibition really get me going on whether or not I recognise my own reflection? I guess I was more interested in the fact that I finally got to see Shrigley, Kelley, Fischli/Weiss and Tillmans, and all under one Carnegie roof!

With that being said, the Shrigley sculptures weren't really his best (big ups on the kitty cat though, if you can't tell, us paintandbakers love our cats) and perhaps even some of his drawings could have been just as relevant to the 'strangers in our own world' theme than the sculptures. Was an odd choice to say the least. 

But very impressed with the Kandor installation. The whirlpool/tornado projections were excellent in conjunction with the sculpture. But alas, it was rather annoying not being able to get close enough to see the sculptures properly as they were roped off (a problem encountered again with the Fischli/Weiss installation). Why oh why must they restrict our viewing pleasure?? Can they not see that I am an over enthusiastic art student that just wants to get as close as possible, close enough to smell the polyurethaned goodness...ropes are not my friend!

New favourite artist alert:

- Apichatpong Weerasethakul's video installation, complete with NEON! And i mean, colourful dancing neon. Such beautiful, new pants neon...

- Noguchi Rika's strange dream-like pinhole photos

Other notes:

- Thomas Hirschorn's cardboard installation which puts anyone else's cardboard attempts to shame. Claud and I did some serious chillin' in this cave.

- The regret I felt not being able to experience Kai Althoff's installation because someone perhaps deemed it too dangerous to continue (it had a viscose pesticide running through it). It now sits without the gooey substance, empty and void, unignited and unactivated. 

It was a challenging exhibition. Still unravelling itself to me as I think about it now. If it weren't so darn expensive to go see ($11USD for a 'student' free for a CMU-ers) then I would definately go again. Perhaps I can wrangle a student ID off some poor unsuspecting Carnegie student...

But it is also a very suitable exhibition for me at the moment. As a person pondering my 'alien' status in another country, how could I not relate? As Fogle says, this exhibition is about the 'alien inside of us'. 

How fitting.

- Agnes

p.s. How I needed one of these whilst visiting this show! I had to resort back to the cybershot, taking pictures from my bag while scary gallery attendants were not watching...the things I do...

Projector Revolution!

A very very quickie post straight from the Carnegie Museum of Art where the 'Life on Mars' International is on. Will do a proper post on it with sneaky pics later...

But for now, have just been perusing blogs and catching up on news from the NZ and came across this post by Over the Net.

Those of you who know me know that I dabbled in some slide projection in the last semester (thanks to the guidance of Andy Thompson aka slide projector sensei master).

Indeed as pointed out by Over the Net, the projector is very much an icon. And one I want to see back in it's glory sunshine days. Look!! Nan Goldin is using one! She's a cool chick.

Back to projectors though, it's funny how much I do relate to outdated machines conceived before me. I think I recall a conversation with Julian about how he feels that a lot of artists now are looking back towards older technology as a reaction to the speed at which technology evolves and grows nowadays. I guess that is somewhat true of me, I often find myself shrinking at the idea of picking up any machine made in the last five years when it comes to art-making. Mostly because of the rules and languages I have to learn in order to run the machine. I find older technology speaks to me in a language that I can understand more so than newer, shinier machines. But I also find that there is this excitement and gambling of sorts when one takes on board obsolete technology and has to find parts to replace/fix. How quickly they can be taken away from you because of such reasons. I think I will cry when my typewriter ribbon finally runs out...But it's also this funny thing where you find you are re-learning skills which in turn are also obsolete...How valuable is my so far learnt knowledge of slide projection now? How about in 10 years time?

How long can we hold onto the fruits of the past? I will be clawing at it desperately for years to come. Sharpening my nails for extra hold as we speak...

- Agnes

Craft-ness

News from Auckland!

Before I left, Thomas showed me some stuff he had been working on as a part of our craft-duo team.

This is a continuation of what he showed me. Cool beans, I'm an avid ring wearer and will most definately be hitting him up with one of these. Now what to do with them?? We were thinking of perhaps etching into the wood or even just giving it a nice stain. Suggestions anyone??

Hopefully in the new year, we will have some other stuff up. We do have plans and ideas for projects, anyone have a laser cutter we can steal??

- Agnes

24hourplanerage

Mitre 10 Fire!!

The guy on the right of this photo is this guy, he's a member of John Mellencamp's band and my plane neighbour for the flight to LAX

my $16NZD breakfast

Dallas Fort Worth International

And finally....PITTSBURGH!!

Weary after a long battle with altitude, uptight security and air conditioning, to the point where I didnt know whether I would ever make it to my destination. Lots of line waiting as well...

But not to worry, I'm here now and am in one piece. Witnessed the Mitre 10 blaze on the way to the airport,

Which brings me to the Lucky that...'s:

- Lucky that I persuaded the parentals to go to the Mitre 10 near our house instead of the onehunga one to buy locks on the way to the airport...

- Lucky that the whole plane ride to Los Angeles was filled with members of John Mellencamp's band

- Lucky that all my flights arrived early

- Lucky that LAX security did not choose to randomly frisk me like they did the guy in front

So far have been adjusting to Pittsburghian lifestyle and american food (lack of greenery, excess of sugar). Will be coming back ten pounds heavier (no more metric system for me).

- Agnes

AUT vs Carnegie

Yay for Claudia's re-emergence on the blog!!

This is sneaky peek into the Carnegie Mellon art school way of life.

Right now I am blogging from the studios where Claudia is attempting to pull an all-nighter for her painting crit tomorrow night. We all know that Claudia is indeed the queen of all-night paint marathons, I very much feel for her pain...

So far I have learnt that studio space is scarce and that most people tend towards fairly figurative work that revolve around very prominent narratives...

Studio environment feels very closed and not communal at all, as you can see from the photos, everyone gets their own tiny space (or have to share the space if they are unlucky) and also curtains for 'privacy'!!! What a novel idea, great for collecting one's thoughts, but I can't say that it is one that I am partial to.

The way of working here also means that students don't really get time to develop their ideas as they are too busy trying to finish various projects by their deadline. Very different to back home where we were pretty much given free reign over the year, uninhibited by pressures of due dates etc. But this also means that Carnegie Mellon students are therefore very productive as they are working at break neck speed all semester...

Great things though are the University's support for the students. They get spaces outside of the uni to create and make student based initiatives such as the start up of a 'Waffle Shop' with the intent of opening up social spaces and all.

Which leads me to wonder which I would prefer? I know Claudia is pining for the AUT life, and by the looks of things, I would too.

There's plenty of free food here though (and we all know that starving art students rely on food of the free nature) as demonstrated by the cupcakes that were handed out at 9.30pm by a tutor.

uber excitement for cupcakes.

- Agnes

Bye Bye Crusty Pie

Ahhh the joys of packing...

A post to say goodbye. To those whose faces I did not get to see recently, I hope this can suffice.

Things to not look forward to:

- 24 hours of travellin'
- Jet lag
- Recycled air
- Security at LAX

Things that are making me do all of the above:

- Seeing Claudia for the first time in 5 months!
- A white christmas
- My love of the airport (such nothing spaces they are really, waiting spaces, as close to purgatory on this dimension...)


Anyway, to let our dear readers know, for the next two months, this blog will really be 'The Adventures of Agnes and Claudia in America'. I hope that isn't too much of a bother for you. We will try to keep it art related unless we really do feel the need to share. And will try to update as often as we can from hideous Starbucks wireless hotspots.

A message to my fellow pnb-ers. Keep me updated on your actions? I shall put news on this blog from Auckland as well if you send it to me in email form.

Also, if any reader (whether we know your or not!) would like to receive a postcard or two, we would be more than obliged to do so. Just click on our profile and send me an email with your name and address. We promise we won't stalk you.

Till I get to Obama-land!

- Agnes

youngblood

The Young Blood Salon was like deja vu...like being transported in a time machine back to the Elam open days, with everything being so familiar yet slightly askew...

Example:

Clara Chon's erratic installation of her work in the City Art Room space as opposed to the use of the Elam Studios/next to the 'reading room'.

Which leads me to the problem of how one installs the exhibition of the finalists, so that it is not just a 'showing' of work (this artist does this, this artist does that etc.) but actually starts to engage in the space? There didn't really seem to be much consideration towards this...

With 23 finalists last year, I can't even begin to imagine what the installation of that Salon would have been like...Laxmi, who attended last years opening, told me it was extremely crowded (with both people and art) so I applaud the choice (conscious or due to lack of talent?) of cutting down on finalists. But this still didn't solve the problem of how to show one's work without compromising the work itself (which is what I felt happened with some aspects of this show, namely Clara's and Caryline Boreham's photographs).

Twas a pretty well rounded group of finalists I must say. Congratulations on those chosen. And the excellent award including a trip to Berlin!! What a fantastic opportunity, esp with the $5000 on top. Ooooo such restraint the winner must exercise as to not spend all won moolah on 5000 buckaroos worth of german beer. Sehr Gut!

But where were the AUT-ers this year? There were plenty last year (as there were finalists). Who entered? Who got rejected? And most of all, who the heck WON??? We do not know as we couldn't stay upstairs in the stuffy gallery much longer without rendering us sardines-in-can-sitting-out-in-sun and City Art Rooms refuse to update their website... Such pressing questions! It is my duty as blogger to find out the answers! I must know! Would you be so kind as to help me out?

And also, to be fair, perhaps the point of this exhibition, is simply not to be presnting an 'exciting' show of sorts, but rather simply, to be presenting finalists for an award. I guess like the Walters and the Wallace. Award shows are what they are.

But why can we not have an award show that also fulfills the need for artwork to sit interestingly in a space? Peter Robinson's ACK was rather successful in doing so with the Walters...hmm such things to consider...

Someone gimme an over-the-moon-excited awards show!! Or is that an oxymoron?

- Agnes

p.s. Bets were placed at 6.30pm as to who the winner was. My bet was Clara or Trenton Garratt...

Did I win??

EDIT: Just received news from City Art Rooms that Trenton Garratt took the prize! Well done brotha.