Exhibition Guide
Joana Vasconcelos 21 September – 25 November 2007
Joana Vasconcelos 21 September – 25 November 2007
The New Art Gallery Walsall is delighted to present the first major solo show in Britain by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. She creates sculptures, frequently on a very large scale, from familiar, domestic objects. They reference art, popular culture and national identity and cleverly combine mass-produced items with elements of handicraft such as crochet or knitting. Yet they are also meticulously and ingeniously engineered. They can be witty, colourful, engaging and provocative. In the gallery’s Window Box, which can be seen on the street outside the gallery, is a large woollen work entitled Pega 4. In Portuguese, the title refers to a small hand-knitted object that is used to take hot items from the oven. It is often made from strands of wool left over from knitting and usually has a loop sewn onto it from which it can be hung on the wall. This item would commonly be found within a Portuguese household. Joana has made a series of Pega works and this particular one has been made specifically for the Window Box. Each of the Pega works have been magnified until their newly-established scale recalls the kind of abstract paintings created by American artists such as Kenneth Noland and Frank Stella. The knitted rings become a bold, abstract design. Pega is a typically playful work where the domestic effectively becomes epic and heroic, and tradition is intertwined with modernity. The sense of familiarity and comfort evoked by the object is jarred somewhat by the vicious-looking hooks used to anchor it to the wall! In the Foyer, visitors are greeted by A Noiva (The Bride). This remarkable structure takes the form of a very grand chandelier with around 25,000 tampons in place of bulbs or glass ornaments. It is typical of Joana’s work and is one of her most recognised and important pieces. By using mass produced goods in sculptural forms, Joana explores global consumer society and cultural identities.
Euro-Visão is a rare example of a video work by Joana. The video itself is actually a found piece containing footage from the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest which that year, was broadcast from Harrogate, England. Hence, the vocal tones of Terry Wogan can be heard as the footage was filmed and relayed throughout Europe by the BBC. The footage features a typically trashy performance by the Portuguese entry, a girl-band called Doce. They didn’t do particularly well that year and the contest was won by the German entry, Nicole. Joana enjoys the campery of the subject but is also interested in the contest as a vehicle by which national identity is expressed, challenged or re-worked. The television itself is covered with a spiders web of crochet, which binds the work together whilst obscuring our view of the screen. Joana often uses crochet in this manner, drawing upon handicrafts commonly found within Portuguese households and subverts their usual associations to create an intriguing and compelling work of art. Another work which uses crochet is Matilha, where a group of dogs are each wrapped in an elaborate coat of crochet. It is alongside Passerelle, in which the ceramic dogs are locked in a relentless parade where, on impact with each other, they slowly break into pieces on the floor. Both these works contain the ceramic dogs that are commonly found in Portuguese homes. They often function as ironic status symbols, as substitutes for the real thing. Jardim do Eden (Garden of Eden), is a new work, specially commissioned for this exhibition. It is an ambitious work that explores the relationship between art, nature and technology and ponders on our perception of nature in the future. Visitors can wander through this completely artificial and multi-sensory garden which contains its own beauty and yet is also slightly chilling. Jardim do Eden raises questions about the present and future way of life and the role technology will play in the construction of a new ‘natural’ environment. Coração Independente Vermelho (Red Independent Heart) is an elegant structure that on close inspection reveals an elaborate inter-weaving of plastic cutlery. It refers at once to the Viana do Castelo Heart, traditionally worn on pendants by women from the town of Viana do Castelo in Portugal, famous for its folklore traditions and decorative filigree jewellery. It also alludes to the lyrics of a song sung by Fado diva Amália Rodrigues. The song takes the form of a dialogue between the head and heart of the singer. Portuguese culture and national identity are subjects frequently explored by Joana in her work. A huge airborne colourful creation, Valquíria Excesso is an example of one of Joana’s major textile works. It is made from hand-knitted wool, crochet and fabrics. Valquíria (Valkyrie) refers to female creatures from Norse mythology, whose functions were both heroic and domestic. They were to choose the most heroic of those who had died in battle and to carry them off to Valhalla (an afterlife). In Valhalla the Valkyries would also perform domestic duties such as serve drinks.
Events In Conversation: Joana Vasconcelos Saturday 13 October, 2pm As part of her first major solo exhibition in the UK, The New Art Gallery is proud to present an opportunity to meet and learn more about the work and practice of artist Joana Vasconcelos. Join Joana as she talks about the exhibition, her work and influences.
Curating the exhibition Tuesday 23 October, 2pm Join Deborah Robinson, Senior Exhibitions Curator for a tour of Joana Vasconcelos’ exhibition which will focus on the how the exhibition was curated and organised. A fantastic opportunity for students and those interested in a career in the visual arts. Places are limited for In Conversation events so please reserve your free place in advance by calling 01922 654400
Family Events Woolly Wonders Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 October, 1pm – 3pm Create your own woolly fantastical creature. Free, just drop-in. Ideal for all ages.
If you are feeling inspired by Joana’s works then why not have a go at knitting or crocheting at the gallery. Look out for the baskets of wool placed around the gallery. For more information about the exhibition and Joana Vasconcelos, visit the resource area in the gallery space, and also the Art Library.
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