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Past Exhibition |
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BONDS
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Image: Isabel Ulzurrun Subiendo al interior (Going up to the interior), 2004
Organza, linen, varnish and wood |
Curators:
Ana Vázquez and David Rodríguez Caballero
Artists:
Noriko Ambe
Ten+Goku (Sacré Nobi and Hajime Watanabe)
Isabel Ulzurrun
David Rodríguez Caballero
On view from September 16th to November 5th, 2005
Opening :
Friday, September 16th, 6-8pm
Artist’s Talk :
Saturday, October 15th, 6-8pm
Venue :
Ise Cultural Foundation Gallery, 555 Broadway, Basement Floor, New York, NY 10012 [Between Prince/ Spring Sts.]
Gallery
Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday, 12- 6 p.m.
Closed on Mondays. Sundays by appointment.
Admission Policy:
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Image:
Isabel Ulzurrun Subiendo al interior (Going up to the interior), 2004
Organza, linen, varnish and woody.
ISE CULTURAL FOUNDATION is pleased to present the exhibition, “Bonds", curated by Ana Vázquez, and David Rodríguez Caballero,
a curatorial team from Spain. “Bonds” explores one of the main features of the contemporary art arena: the appropriation of
symbols from distant cultures. “Bonds” conveys how the artists use the symbols devoid of meanings in order to interpret them
on the one hand, from their own cultural contexts and on the other hand, from their own creative mind.
That combination of cultural backgrounds and personal universe elicits both new products and the amplification of the meanings of the
symbols.
The symbols presented in this show are renowned icons in their respective Western and Eastern cultures: the Catholic iconography
(Saints, Pietá and Virgins), the Age of Enlightenment (books, atlas, encyclopaedia) and the Japanese traditions (zen gardens, origami
and kimonos). Noriko Ambe´s elegant and delicate artworks reference geological strata and imaginary landscapes. Ambe’s artworks are
always made out of paper. In this artist´s sculptures, this material is beautiful, even sublime. By manipulating layers of paper she
invents geographies with a dramatic varnish, as the process is for her as important as the finished product.
In “Bonds”, Noriko Ambe is presenting her two main lines of work. The first one consists on adding layers of white paper which is
later manipulated. In the second line She also manipulates (cutting) readymade object, such as newspapers, books, atlases, etc. In her
series “Linear Actions” she applies the same process to highly symbolically charged objects like anatomy books. Sacre Nobi (aka Nobi S
) – takes on the catholic iconography “orientalizing” it in some way. The original meaning of the symbols (cross, saints, etc) becomes
different. Sacré Nobi- is a native New Yorker but he moved to Japan in the 60´s. The artworks shown at the ISE space are the products
of the collaborative duo named Ten+Goku. Ten+Goku, is formed by Sacré Nobi (sculpture) and Hajime Watanabe (photography); their work
has been exhibited in New York and Japan since 1999.
The two Cibachrome photographs in the exhibition, The Ryoanji Pietá (40 x 50 inches) and The Tokyo Madonna (40 x 60 inches), were first
shown in 1999.
The Ryoanji Pietá depicts one of Sacré Nobi's lifetime favorite subject. As a child he had the opportunity to see Michelangelo's 1499
Pieta at the World Fair in Queens, NY. Shortly after, he moved to Japan and visited the Ryoanji gardens in Kyoto. In the eyes of a
six-year-old, Pietá and the garden merged in a single vision: a mountain on a sea of stones. In this collaboration, Hajime Watanabe and
Sacré Nobi create a composition that stretches the eye and the mind, by setting up a type of diorama. It is a conscious effort to break
the viewer away from the subject in order to create a visual experience in the controlled mannerism of Zen.
The Tokyo Madonna emerged when they were taking photos of Ryoanji Pietá. Although the image represents one of the most famous Western
icons, its gesture (showing the back of the figure) can imply different meanings. Sacré Nobi and Hajime Watanabe often feel that works
of art are an opportunity for viewers to construct a meaning, and the piece turned out to be perfect for that.
Isabel Ulzurrun re-interprets the kimono in her subtle sculptural dresses; however, the final product is far from the original functions
and forms of the traditional Japanese costume, since her interventions depart from Western techniques and materials. This artist
manipulates the fabrics (raffia, linen, muslin) treating them as if they were books where she places invented stories focused on the
couture world. Ulzurrum displays two pieces in this exhibition: in the one hand, she keeps working in the idea of larger-than-life
Western kimonos. On the other hand, the artist has created a sculpture that evokes a samurai armour, however, its intention is to portrait
a device intended to protect against fear in an extremely poetic way.
The proposal of David Rodríguez Caballero references the Japanese garden and the origami tradition under an iconoclastic perspective.
The distinguishing features of this Spanish artist are the use of industrial materials, the lack of iconography, the geometry and the
pictorial treatment by means of tri dimensional elements. Rodríguez Caballero conveys a proposal departing from painting parameters that
allows him to establish two points of dialogue between East and West. -, At the exhibition space, this Spanish artist is presenting two
big format artworks,“Oriental Garden 2005” and “Western Garden, 2005.”
These five artists bring in their different worlds, establishing intercultural and multidisciplinary dialogues. The viewer will be
challenged in terms of cultural identity issues. “Bonds” intends to build bridges not only over disciplines but also over different
ways of apprehending various cultural domains.
This exhibition is part of the ISE Cultural Foundation’s Program for Emerging Curators. Please contact Ise Cultural Foundation Gallery
for further information.
About the curators –David Rodríguez Caballero and Ana Vázquez
David Rodríguez is developing a double career both as a curator and an artist. He has worked in the MAM; Museo de Arte Moderno (Mexico
City), Museum of Modern Art, MoMA (New York), Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao and New York City) and he is responsible for the Development
Area of the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM) in Valencia, Spain.
Ana Vázquez is an independent writer on lifestyles and cultural issues. She is a Fulbright grantee and holds a Master in Arts (Humanities
and Social Thought) by NYU. She has collaborated with the New Museum of Contemporary Art (New York) and the Museum of Modern Art, MoMA
(New York). She writes for some Spanish online and printed journals.
Events
1)As a part of the “Bonds“ project, a round table will take place at King Juan Carlos I (New York University). “Spanish artist and
curators in New York City” Monday, September 19th from 7 to 10 pm. The panelists: Ana María Torres (independent curator), Xavier Mascaró
(artist), Santiago Olmo (art critic and curator), José Carlos Casado (artist), David Rodríguez Caballero (artist and curator) and Isabel
Ulzurrun (artist) The talk will be moderated by Ana Vázquez.
The discussion will evolve around the question: is there an actual flux between the USA and Spain regarding artists and curators?
2)Artist’s Talk: Saturday, October 15th, 6-8pm Venue: Ise Cultural Foundation
Additional support to the “Bonds” exhibition is provided by King Juan Carlos I Center (NYU); Casa Asia, Valentina Cerámicas, Centro
Cultural Español -Miami- and Yupo Corporation.
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