The Mythology of Everyday Matters, Invitation
A Mythology of Everyday Matters
Michael Dean, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker
Curated by Francesco Pedraglio
Bilton Centre for Contemporary Art - Red Deer - Calgary (Alberta) - Canada
8th March - 13th april 2008
We are here talking of a ‘certain realism’ because there is not just one realism, but there are ‘realisms’.
We are here talking of the mythology of everyday matters because the recollection and the narration of subjective fragments of reality is the first step in the construction of personal myths.
As in a prehistoric cosmogony, a disparate combination of basic elements composes the broad context where the subjectivity of the artist intervenes to recreate a complex parallel reality.
A personal and intimate world transmutes into an individual mythology made from the particles of simple observations of the everyday, where nothing is useful and everything is necessary.
Bit by bit, parallel stories and their unique reading begin to develop into a precious construction of the artist’s alternative history: what really counts is the depth of feelings, not the novelty of the content.
We are here talking of a ‘poetic realism’ able to liberate this parallel history of the unnoticed made of found objects, everyday conversations and intimate relationships.
The narration is a key point to liberate the lyrical aspect of simple perceptions: the three artists write with or within their work, using subjective narrative structures to unhinge any restrain due to a liner perception of the surrounds. Every piece is a step to another level of sensitivity where details of the everyday are filtered through an idiosyncratic set of rules, enabling the creation of a mythology of the simple.
In all this, writing is an essential tool: overly personal and, at the same time, the most complex device to mould reality as an individual myth. Written words translate an objective look on reality into a lyrical scenario.
Words are important, and for Michael Dean, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker, words are particles of an idiosyncratic cosmogony that, from the simplest relation with objects and nature, becomes their reality.
A Mythology of Everyday Matters is an experimental and diagonal reading of the work of Michael Dean, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker through the idea of ‘other realism’ as subjective mythology: a personal construction of an individual reality through the use of narration and written words.
The exhibition includes a movie and a photographic series by Richard T. Walker, a sound piece and a cabinet of props by Clare Gasson, a site-specific installation of text-based sculptures and photographs by Michael Dean.
The aim of the show is to allow the artists to experiment with a normally hidden aspect of their work, facing up to the consequences, opening up to the possibilities and drawing attention upon the narrative potentiality of their practice.
In occasion of the show, Francesco Pedraglio and Michael Dean will present The Mock and other superstitions a quarterly magazine exploring the relation of artists, writers and curators with written words.
We are here talking of the mythology of everyday matters because the recollection and the narration of subjective fragments of reality is the first step in the construction of personal myths.
As in a prehistoric cosmogony, a disparate combination of basic elements composes the broad context where the subjectivity of the artist intervenes to recreate a complex parallel reality.
A personal and intimate world transmutes into an individual mythology made from the particles of simple observations of the everyday, where nothing is useful and everything is necessary.
Bit by bit, parallel stories and their unique reading begin to develop into a precious construction of the artist’s alternative history: what really counts is the depth of feelings, not the novelty of the content.
We are here talking of a ‘poetic realism’ able to liberate this parallel history of the unnoticed made of found objects, everyday conversations and intimate relationships.
The narration is a key point to liberate the lyrical aspect of simple perceptions: the three artists write with or within their work, using subjective narrative structures to unhinge any restrain due to a liner perception of the surrounds. Every piece is a step to another level of sensitivity where details of the everyday are filtered through an idiosyncratic set of rules, enabling the creation of a mythology of the simple.
In all this, writing is an essential tool: overly personal and, at the same time, the most complex device to mould reality as an individual myth. Written words translate an objective look on reality into a lyrical scenario.
Words are important, and for Michael Dean, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker, words are particles of an idiosyncratic cosmogony that, from the simplest relation with objects and nature, becomes their reality.
A Mythology of Everyday Matters is an experimental and diagonal reading of the work of Michael Dean, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker through the idea of ‘other realism’ as subjective mythology: a personal construction of an individual reality through the use of narration and written words.
The exhibition includes a movie and a photographic series by Richard T. Walker, a sound piece and a cabinet of props by Clare Gasson, a site-specific installation of text-based sculptures and photographs by Michael Dean.
The aim of the show is to allow the artists to experiment with a normally hidden aspect of their work, facing up to the consequences, opening up to the possibilities and drawing attention upon the narrative potentiality of their practice.
In occasion of the show, Francesco Pedraglio and Michael Dean will present The Mock and other superstitions a quarterly magazine exploring the relation of artists, writers and curators with written words.
Some images of the show
Michael Dean, Installation view
Michael Dean, Untitled (The Hands), 2008
Michael Dean, Untitled (you you), 2008
Michael Dean, Untitled, 2008
Installation view, Michael Dean (left), Clare Gasson (front) and Richard T. Walker (right)
Clare Gasson, The Washaway Road, 2007-8, Mixed media, including sound, stage, light bulb, shelves and objects. Dimensions variable.
Clare Gasson, Ante Room, 2008, Mixed media, including mirrors, books and shelves. Dimensions variable.
Clare Gasson, Venus IX, 2008
Installation view, Clare Gasson (front) and Richard T. Walker
Installation view, Clare Gasson and Richard T. Walker
Clare Gasson, The Washaway Road, 2007-8, Mixed media, including sound, stage, light bulb, shelves and objects. Dimensions variable.
Richard T. Walker, Installation view
Richard T. Walker, Outside the democracy of circumstance (installation view), 2007-8
Richard T. Walker, Outside the democracy of circumstance (still from video), 2007-8
Richard T. Walker, Outside the democracy of circumstance (still from video), 2007-8
