GEERTEN VERHEUS (NL)
Two Suspensions
© Geerten Verheus, Pit, The, 2008
ERÖFFNUNG AM 16. Januar AB 19 UHR
Öffnungszeiten
16. - 31. Januar 2009
Donnerstag und Freitag von 16 - 20 Uhr
Und nach Vereinbarung unter 0176 651 52 446 (Leo)
Two Suspensions
For the exhibition at zwanzigquadratmeter I chose two suspended works: Height and Pit, The.
They are suspended both in space and in time - they both hang from a ceiling and both have been waiting for an appropriate occasion to be exhibited.
Height is a variation on the 2006 kinetic sculpture Lengths (By and Large). A rubber length, measuring the exact height of the space, draws a thick black curved line from the ceiling to the floor. In its effort to become the centre axis of the room by straightening itself up, it is helped and at the same time handicapped by its support system, which consists of an electric motor and supporting belts.
On Lengths (By and Large), Tom Morton wrote in Frieze Magazine:
'Sex,' claimed Andy Warhol, 'is the biggest nothing of all time.' Looking at Geerten Verheus' Lengths (By and Large), (2006) – a kinetic sculpture that formed the centrepiece of the group show 'Flutter', curated by the painter Michael Raedecker – it's hard not to hear the Pop artist's words whispering in your ear. A motor hummed on the gallery ceiling, winding up a long brass chain from which were suspended several dark lengths of beechwood. As the mechanism turned, the sculpture tensed, and you got to thinking about arched backs, curled toes and gristly erectile tissue. Finally, unable to take any more, Verheus' piece shuddered in grateful release and momentarily slackened, only for the whole Sisyphean process to begin once more. Call it a wheel of desire. Call it an automaton suffering from some pornographic strain of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Call it what you like, frankly, because it's too busy to listen, caught up as it is with chasing the big 'O', the big zero, the big, Warholian nothing.
Pit, The is installed likewise, hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room.
This work is in fact the second life of the remains of the first version of The Midnight Sun (2005), irreparably damaged from heat in 2006. Re-constructed, The Midnight Sun is a disco mirror ball, made entirely out of rubber, and installed from the ceiling in typical fashion.
Pit, The, motionless and silent, recalls a club inferno, imploded, exploded and inverted. It shows the afterlife of an artwork.
Geerten Verheus * 1965, Amsterdam, NL
-1988- 93: BA in photography, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
-1998- 99: MA Fine Arts , Chelsea College of Art & Design, London UK
Lives and works in Berlin
Selected exhibitions and projects:
-2008
- Männerfantasien - Group show at COMA Berlin
- It Happens To Be This - Group show at Künstlerhäuser Worpswede
- ZERO - Group show at Galerie Aanant & Zoo, Berlin
-2007
- Verregnetes Heu - Solo at COMA, Berlin
- Self-effaced - Group show at FAProjects, London
-2006
- Happiness - Group show at Gagosian Gallery Berlin, 4th Berlin Biennale
- Flutter - Group show at The Approach, London
- Flip - Group show at Chung King Project, Los Angeles
- Well - Soloshow at Villa DeBank, Enschede,NL
*
News
Victoria Lucas and Leo have been invited to guest curate at zwanzigquadratmeter (20qm) project space, for a duration of three months beginning in December 2008. Their project will comprise a series of events with a UK and Berlin connection, including an exhibition of work from both a UK-based and a Berlin-based artist. Their project will begin with a night of current international artist's video, from both UK and Berlin based artists.
Victoria Lucas is an artist curator currently undertaking a non-funded art residency at The Berlin Office in Neukölln, Berlin. Graduating from a Master of Fine Art degree at the University of Leeds in 2007, Victoria has been involved with various projects and exhibitions in the UK for the past few years. Her most recent curated project was an exhibition in a disused factory space entitled Separations, comprising nine new installations by visual artists working in Northern England. Victoria's art practice encompasses installation based video and sculpture, photography, short artist's film, and artist's books.
Leo has been an active member of a number of artist-organized projects, including founder member of CSKX Studios, London (1990-2001) and Pugh Pugh, studio and project space, Berlin, (2003-4). As well as organizing exhibitions and events at these, he was also film programmer at the Whitechapel Art gallery, London (1994-1999) and for the LUX, Pandemonium film and video festival, London (1999). Leo's practice is installation based, employing video, light and projection, sculpture and drawing.
Events
Friday 16th January 2009: Geerten Verheus and T.B.C, Opening 20:00 - 22:00
Friday 13th February 2009: Victoria Lucas and T.B.C, Opening 20:00 - 22:00