Tuesday 8 March 2016

Before the $€LLOUT... I'll be doing this...



English Below.


Jedlitschka Gallery
Pressemitteilung:
Die Jedlitschka Galerie freut sich, die erste Einzelausstellung in Zürich mit Bildern des Künstlers Chris Dennis zu präsentieren.
Die Ausstellung ist geöffnet vom 31. März 2016 bis 21. Mai 2016. Die Vernissage findet am Donnerstag 31 März 2016 von 17.00 bis 20.00 Uhr im Beisein des Künstlers statt. 

MOTIF/ MOTIVE
Neue Bilder von Chris Dennis.

“When I said I paint the same things again and again because I think about the same things again and again, did you think I was joking?”

Chris Dennis malt seine Bilder von inmitten einer visuellen Welt, die er 1996 zu entwickeln begann, als er eine Bilderserie schuf, basierend auf einer Kollektion von Kurzgeschichten namens ‚The Informers‘ von Bret Easton Ellis. Seine Figuren mit Tierköpfen sind nicht irgendwelche fantastischen Kreaturen aus der Science Fiction. Sie sind Masken oder Verkleidungen. Ihre Identität mag versteckt sein, aber die Wahl des Tieres erzählt seine eigene Wahrheit. Von hier aus erkundet Chris Ideen bezüglich Biografie/Autobiografie, Autorschaft und die unzuverlässige Quelle.

MOTIF/MOTIVES ist eine Ausstellung, die buchstäblich in zwei Hälften präsentiert wird und einen Riss im Geist des ‚Malers‘ zeigt. Dieser Zustand der Poriomanie oder Fugue, ähnlich jenem, welcher im Film Lost Highway von David Lynch porträtiert wird, verwischt die Linie zwischen Wahrheit und Unwahrheit, Fantasie und Realität.

Wer mit Chris’ Arbeiten vertraut ist, wird beim Betreten der Ausstellung feststellen, dass die auf der linken Seite ausgestellten neun Tafeln wesentlich grösser sind als frühere Werke. 

Vertraute Figuren mit den Köpfen von Fischen sind platziert in von Wasser umgebenen Landschaften, dominiert von einem leeren Horizont. Er, manchmal sie, manchmal ein Paar, schauen hinaus auf dunkles Wasser und stürmische Himmel, die einen Schmerz verheissen, der in Bildern mit den Titeln A Lake and Promises, Promises angedeutet wird, aber klar sichtbar ist auf der Haut der weiblichen Figur in The Sting.

Um deren Füsse herum ist das Ufer übersät mit der Vergangenheit – abgebrannte Zündhölzer, verkrustete, alte und verspritze Farbe.

Und dann ist da noch der Text. Erklärt er, verwirrt er oder amüsiert er einfach nur?

An der gegenüberliegenden Wand befinden sich mehrere kleinere Bilder, welche willkürlich und in seltsamen Höhen an der Wand hängen. Unsere Augen flitzen herum, wie wir voyeuristisch eine Serie weiblicher Figuren mit Vogelköpfen erspähen. WIR sind fokussiert auf SIE. Ihre Umgebung wird übersehen oder ignoriert und ist durchsetzt mit hellweissen und blankem Sperrholz, das in Galerien und Kunstausstellungen allgegenwärtig ist.

Etwas ist unerreichbar in diesen Bildern, sei es der begehrliche Blick des Betrachters oder die flügellosen Figuren, die dem Gefängnis ihrer beengenden Bildnisse nicht entfliehen können.

Diese zwei Seiten treffen sich in der Mitte der Galerie. Ein einzelnes Portrait (das grösste Stück der Ausstellung) blickt hinab auf den eher unbequemen Stuhl, das Mobiltelefon, Starbucks und das Taschenbuch, welches von einer ‚Gallerina‘ oder Museumsaufsicht liegengelassen worden ist.

Sand, welcher von der linken Seite das Bild einnimmt, ist übersät mit den Trümmern, welche die Bilder selbst produzieren und, mit der Zeit, jede Spur von einander begraben.

Chris Dennis zog 2013 nach Zürich und schloss sich bald danach der Galerie an. Er wurde 1974 in Südengland geboren und erhielt 1996 seinen Bachelor (Hons) von der Universität Wolverhampton. Er lebte in Berlin, in Neuseeland und er verbrachte 13 Jahre in den Vereinigten Staaten, wo er 2000 seinen MFA vom University Art College in San Francisco erhielt. Er stellte laufend aus in Städten wie London, Brighton, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Nashville, Miami, Berlin, Auckland, St. Gallen und Zürich.

Am Freitag 13. Mai, 18.00 Uhr, wird eine Fragerunde mit dem Künstler stattfinden moderiert von Dr. Mark Staff Brandl. Während der ganzen Ausstellungsdauer sind die Besucher eingeladen, Fragen zu stellen. Dazu steht auf dem Stuhl einer Installation eine Schachtel zur Verfügung.

Für Fragen und weitere Auskünfte wenden Sie sich bitte an die Galerie.   
                                                                                                            -Thomas Grossmann.

Jedlitschka Gallery
Seefeldstrasse 52.  8008 Zürich
Tel. +41 (0)44 252 35 30
                                                                                                          


Jedlitschka Gallery. 

Press Release:
The Jedlitschka Gallery is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of paintings in Zürich, by the artist Chris Dennis.
The exhibition will run from March 31st 2016, through May 21st, 2016 with an opening reception on Thursday, March 31 from 5pm to 8 pm. The artist will be in attendance. 

MOTIF/ MOTIVE
New Paintings by Chris Dennis.

 “When I said I paint the same things again and again because I think about the same things again and again, did you think I was joking?”

Chris Dennis paints his images within a visual world he began to construct in 1996, when he produced a series of paintings based on a collection of short stories by Bret Easton Ellis called The Informers. His figures, with animal heads, are not some other-worldly creatures from Science fiction. They are masks or disguises. The likeness may be hidden but the choice of animal tells its own truth.  From here, Chris explores ideas about biography /autobiography, authorship and the unreliable source.

MOTIF/ MOTIVE is an exhibition presented literally in two halves and depicts a split in the mind of ‘the Painter’. This fugue state, not unlike that portrayed by David Lynch in his film, Lost Highway blurs the line between truth and untruth, fantasy and reality.

The left hand side of the gallery displays 9 panels that appear considerably larger to anyone aware of Chris’ previous work.  Familiar figures with the heads of fish are placed in landscapes surrounded by water and dominated by an empty horizon.  He, sometimes she, sometimes a couple look out on dark water and stormy skies, that threaten a pain that is hinted at in paintings titled, A Lake and Promises, Promises but is clearly visible on the skin of the female figure in The Sting. 
Around their feet, the shoreline is littered with the past - used matches, crusted, old and splattered paint.
And then there is the text.  Does it explain, confuse or simply amuse?

On the wall opposite are more numerous, smaller paintings, hung erratically at strange sight-lines. Our eyes dart around as we voyeuristically spy a series of female figures with bird heads. WE are focused on THEM. Their surroundings are clumsily dismissed or ignored and are interspersed with panels of bright white and bare plywood that is ubiquitous in the gallery and art fair.
Something is unattainable in these images, be it from the covetous gaze of the viewer, or the wingless, figures who cannot escape the confinement of their cramped compositions.
These 2 sides collide in the centre.  A single portrait (the largest piece in the show) looks down on the
not too comfortable chair, cell phone, Starbucks, paperback, left behind by a ‘Gallerina’ or ‘Museumsaufsicht’.
Drifting sand invades from the left, littered with the detritus produced by these very paintings that will in time bury all trace of the other.
Chris Dennis Moved to Zürich in 2013 and joined the gallery soon after. Born (1974) in The South of England he received his BA (Hons) from the University of Wolverhampton in 1996. He has lived in Berlin and New Zealand and spent 13 years in the United States, earning in 2000, his MFA from the University of Art College in San Francisco. He has exhibited continuously, in cities including London, Brighton, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Nashville, Miami, Berlin, Auckland, St. Gallen and Zürich.
On Friday, May 13th at 6pm, there will be a Q&A with the artist, hosted by Dr. Mark Staff Brandl. Visitors will be invited to submit questions throughout the duration of the exhibition, on-line and via a box on the chair of the installation.
Please contact the gallery with further questions or enquiries.

Jedlitschka Gallery
Seefeldstrasse 52.  8008 Zürich
Tel. +41 (0)44 252 35 30

Friday 4 March 2016

MANIFESTA 11: Zürich

98 DAYS UNTIL MANIFESTA 11 OPENS IN ZÜRICH.

http://m11.manifesta.org/en


This is what some of the big boys are doing......

11 Good Reasons to visit Manifesta 11

1. “Its more than urgent in the current crisis in which Europe is finding itself to show the relevance of artistic interventions and the way how artists can create a social impact. Manifesta 11 in Zurich with the theme 'What People do for money? Some Joint Ventures" provides a practical understanding of art's societal impact in todays European big issues such as unemployment and uncertainty of their labor future. With the highest amounts of youth unemployment in Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy since the second world war, a quarter of European citizen under 25 years old, are without work or education! That proofs the relevance of Manifesta 11." Hedwig Fijen, Manifesta Founder and Director of Manifesta 11.
2. “Our project promises many surprises. Beforehand, I was told the Swiss were a cautious people. Now, when we look for hosts for our artists, I experience the opposite. Cooperation with Zurich police, for example, has been an absolute dream. They are quick and well organised. We talked about surrealism with them.“ Christian Jankowski, Curator Manifesta 11.
3. “I am delighted that the Löwenbräukunst complex will be one of the main venues of Manifesta this summer. Where once beer was brewed has been an exhibition centre for contemporary art for more than twenty years now. In 2012, the entire building was refurbished and extended. Some parts are now under a preservation order, with the result that today, the Löwenbräu complex feels like a monument to the industrial past. In other words, it is an extremely fitting place in which to reflect on the topic of ‘work‘ in a city that moves between ‘Zwinglian work ethic‘ and leisurely pleasures.” Heike Munder, Director Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst in the Löwenbräukunst-Areal, one of the venue partners of Manifesta 11.
4. “I recommend Zurich in summer 2016 because the city’s art scene will do everything it can to make the Manifesta pale in comparison with local creativity.“ Urs Steiner, Coordinator Parallel Events Manifesta 11.
5. “Zurich in Summer 2016 – because we will be celebrating 100 years of Dada and the birthplace of Dada, the Cabaret Voltaire, will be transformed into the ‘Cabaret der Künster – Zunfthaus Voltaire‘.” Adrian Notz, Director Cabaret Voltaire,
6. "Come to Zurich this summer to find a new art island in the lake. Don’t forget your swimming trunks." Tom Emerson, Studio Tom Emerson at ETH Zürich, developing for Manifesta 11 the Pavillon of Reflections.
7. "I recommend Zurich in summer 2016 because they have the zoo and the rich." Mike Bouchet, Artist Manifesta 11. Join his Zurich Load-Day on March 24!
8. "I would recommend everyone to visit Manifesta 11 this summer because you will see the everyday slog of work transformed into artworks that will make you laugh, ponder, dance, cry, smile, hum, frown and think." Francesca Gavin, Co-Curator Historical Section, Manifesta 11.
9. "In Summer 2016 the appearance of Manifesta 11 created by us can be experienced throughout the whole city. Each visuality of Manifesta 11 is accompanied by a small narration on the topic of ‘working’. The individual, visible narrations are brief snapshots of various working worlds in Zurich which complement the artistic intentions of Manifesta 11.“ Ruedi Baur, Integral Ruedi Baur.
10. “I recommend Zurich in summer 2016, because the city on the Limmat, with the lake and the Limmat and Sihl rivers, not only offers a choice of great ways to cool down but also because – thanks to Manifesta 11 – it is also temporarily the European Capital of Culture." Ueli Heer, Zurich Tourism.
11. "I have been accompanying Christian Jankowski for more than a year now. He is one of those people who go their own way undaunted, with passion and tenacity. His current goal is the Manifesta. If only half of what he is planning actually happens in Zurich, then I do not want to miss it. And I won’t miss it. I’ve already booked a hotel room to be on the safe side." Jonas Lepin, Journalist Monopol.

Me on the other hand, I'll be forced to $€LLOUT.......