By Krysta Stone, Re:View Contemporary's Writer
The opening of New Physical Consequences on Saturday provided some insights about the nature of a gallery setting, physical space and the expectations we hold for an artistic experience. Obviously, it was a much different experience to see Patrick Gavin and Jonathan Muecke’s works in this setting, as opposed to their studios where I’d first glimpsed the objects.
Both artists’ work is in keeping with their backgrounds in furniture design and architecture, respectively, in that the viewer or user experience is as integral to the object as the material itself. Because of this, much was to be gained by observing attendees at the opening as they interacted with the work in the permanent and temporary gallery spaces.
I took some joy in waiting for the “What is it? What does it do?” moment I observed in some of the visitors' interactions with the objects. Questions of function or purpose (the what and why) seemed to proceed some of the more technical questions like “How is it made? What is it made of? What is the purpose?,” though I’m sure even this series of thoughts was different from person to person.
In the gallery setting it didn’t seem unusual to see pairs or groups of people entering Gavin’s Facilitator, carrying on short dialogues or ‘testing’ the function of these objects that clearly mark boundaries in physical space but also bring people or objects together in a controlled way. Basic Boundaries plays with the most basic of boundary concepts (in/out) with the use of color and texture to create a sense of interior movement, while playing off the concept of corralling humans in an almost unnaturally close space.
While Gavin’s work in the show facilitates or encourages some level of closeness or negotiation of physical space, Jonathan’s work in the temporary gallery is jarring and confrontational in the use of objects, light, shadow, heat, sharp lines, pointed objects and raw materials to divide, join and illuminate the raw and unfinished space of the temporary gallery.
The high powered beams, set up temporarily for the show’s opening night only, shining in from the outside, both polarized and unified the objects and the people in the room. The objects were grouped together within the light, yet at some angles, the viewer had to practically squint to adjust to the glaring light, and in so doing, of course, the view of the entire room changed.
The effect of the lighting also changed throughout the night as the sun went down and the natural light from outdoors faded to darkness, again changing the appearance of the objects, distorting the view of their proximity to and relationship to one another in space. As shadows were cast by the objects, the shadow became an additional layer to the physical space and another element to be considered. There is a strong current of ambiguity to all Muecke’s objects—are the barriers constructed to keep something in or out? The objects plead for a new consideration of basic physical elements in our daily surroundings. There are some surprises here and as well as need to not only see the objects, but to touch and feel them to truly experience the object.
Gavin and Muecke will discuss New Physical Consequences in an artists’ talk on Sunday at 4 pm at the gallery. We hope you’ll come out for further dialogue on the objects, the artists and their intentions.
