I spent some time Saturday on 14th street and came away from two shows that I was excited to see, happy that I spent the time. A few things upfront about both shows, I actually own artworks by both of these artists. (This shocks me to no end – but that is another story) I became aware of both Lori Nix and Khan and Selesnick at various art fairs in Miami last year.
I”ve never really thought about it, but both artists set up environments and narratives, then produce work around those themes.
Lori Nix
Lori Nix’s show is titled “The City”. It shows and illustrates a version of New York that is growing back towards nature. These are not images that are trying to make you believe in the reality of the landscape, just the opposite – LN is only trying to suspend belief for a moment – to give the viewer a feeling that they have seen the location and then tell the story of the artwork. That said, the mis-en-scene is detailed and complete.
Nix’s photographs are similar to telling stories over coffee, there is a simplicity and clarity – with fuzzy details that allows you to linger on her every word.
Kahn and Selesnick
Kahn and Selesnick come from a different place than Nix, K&S; use documentary styles to bring you into a speculative fiction, one which although I’m sure they would hate is probably best termed “Steampunk”. The current body of work titled “Eisbergfrestadt” (or Iceburg Free State) is based on the real incident of 1923 when an iceburg ran aground in the port town of Lubeck.
K&S; use this jumping off point to develop images and relics of the period. One of the stories throughout the images is that the new currency printed for the state become so worthless that it is used as toilet paper and firewood. This reminds me of the stories my father told me about post World War I Germany, the currency was in such a state of inflation – people would practically carry money in wheel barrows to buy bread – this same story is illustrated here. The exhibition consists of photographs, sculptures, paintings, and ephemera. All of it interesting to see just for the approach to detail that these images take.
K&S;’s work in this particular series is laced with irony and satire allowing the viewer to realize that these works reflect not only a real or imagined past, but our present as well.
Extended Play
Kahn and Selesnick have recently received a commission from NASA. Based on Mars, the first of these new images “Mars Glider” is on display as well. In future posts, I promise not to go on too much about NASA and my feelings about how space travel was pulled away from me after being promised in my childhood.
I’m in New York Tuesday – there is just so much to see right now – here is the short list: Richard Prince, Martin Puryear, Jaq Chartier, Johnnie Winona Ross, just to name a few.