Exoplanet

Part of my job at the gallery is to talk about art. To listen to the perceptions of viewers and to answer or discuss the artworks with them. I try not to be too critical of their opinions, even when I want to scream, instead I mirror their stances just enough so that they feel I have recognised their artistic views. Their views are valid. I do not have to agree with their assessments to find their words interesting. They are like a critique, a pulse of public opinion on the exhibits. I find it fascinating.

I look at these artworks for about three weeks at a time. I find my own opinions changing as I get better acquainted with the works and the artists. The unfortunate thing is that knowing the artist affects the artworks. There is nothing wrong with knowing the artist, in fact, it is great to meet other creative minds. The downside is that if you like the artist as a person you are more likely to spend time talking yourself in to liking their work. The reverse is also true. Disliking the artist as a person will usually have negative effect on the way you view their art. This is normal, it could even be described as human nature, but the real question is: Is it fair? The answer, in my opinion, is a resounding NO!

As a curator you deal with personalities (artist, architects, exhibition designers, administrators and a whole lot more) on a daily basis. Everyone has their own part to play and as a curator it is your job to put the concept, the ideas, the “instructions” together so that everyone knows how to play. The curator should not let personal feelings interfere with the vision. When it does, usually it is an inconsistency in the standard of the artworks.

In the case of the Famous Artist, it is the personality of the artist that interests the viewers, not the works of art. The infamy of the artist becomes the context for each work they ever create. Their lives become the performance and the artworks the documentation and ephemera left over by their endless artwork, life.

The exhibition lighting my fire today is the upcoming The Winter Anti Depression Show, which will commence on the 18^th of January at Marres House of Contemporary Culture in The Netherlands and finish on March 23^rd. One of the things that excites me is the fact that I may even get a chance to go view it! 

The Winter Anti Depression Show is a group show consisting of artists and designers who were invited by Marres “to create a house that immerses visitors in a variety of sensory experiences creating... a temporary Art Resort.” the artists and designers involved in the exhibition are: Chris Kabel, Katja Gruijters, Ludmila Rodrigues, Kaffe Matthews, FourceLabs, Alessandro Gualtieri, Lisa Pacini and Christine Istad.

 Lisa Pacini and Christine Istad, "Sun," 2012. Installation.

The exhibition does guided tours twice an hour which are able to have a maximum of 8 people on them, so make sure too book in advance. If you are feeling a bit like the “Famous Artist” you can also book individual tours. The information can be found at the Marres website www.marres.org

The most exciting thing about this exhibition is that it is like a trailer for a movie, because

“ The Winter Anti Depression Show is a pilot for a spectacular exhibition about the senses, Here Comes The Sun, which takes place in the former Sphinx factory in Maastricht from 21 Dec 2015 until 22 March 2016.”