VUK VIDoR PRESENTED BY GALLERY POULSEN
FEBRUARY 2008
EVEN SUPERHEROES CAN’T SAVE US NOW VUK VIDOR · FEBRUARY 2008
22th FEBRUARY TO 29th MARCH
Frederiksholms Kanal 4, i gården 1220 Copenhagen K Denmark Thursday & Friday 15 - 19 Saturday 11 - 15 (and by appointment) Morten Poulsen Phone: +45 - 40 15 55 88 Email: info@gallerypoulsen.com Web: www.gallerypoulsen.com Gallery Poulsen Contemporary Fine Arts Herning Norgaards Allé 20 7400 Herning Denmark (By appointment) Director: Soren Peter Brix Phone: +45 - 26 28 01 02 Email: sp@gallerypoulsen.com Web: www.gallerypoulsen.com Gallery Poulsen / Miller Jansen Fine Arts London Miller Jansen Fine Art Director: Sunil Jansen Mobile: +44 (0) 7960 744 306 Phone: +44 (0) 207 7085 594 Fax : +44 (0) 207 7088 981 Email: sjansen@millerjansen.com
NÆSTE FERNISERING ER MED SMIKE KÄSZNER 4. APRIL 2008
Gallery Poulsen Contemporary Fine Arts Copenhagen
GALLERY POULSEN · COPENHAGEN
Det nye Gallery Poulsen med Vuk Vidor udstilling - udfordrende kunst i nye eksklusive rammer Jeg mødte Vuk på min første deciderede kunstrejse, tilbage i 2004. Det var i Paris, hvor jeg lærte Vuk at kende ved et cocktailparty, som jeg var inviteret med til af Valerie Cueto, Hornsleth og Vuk Vidors franske gallerist, som nu er flyttet til New York.
kunstscene. Ambitionen er, som altid, udfordrende kunst i harmoniske, eksklusive rammer. Galleriet er også tænkt til, at kunne afholde andre relaterede events som receptioner, jubilæer, præsentationer mv. så bare kontakt mig, hvis I har en spændende ide.
Allerede dengang sagde Vuk, at han var interesseret i et samarbejde, når jeg engang fik et rigtigt gallerilokale. Jeg kan stadig huske det første Vuk-maleri jeg så. Det hedder ”Just kill eachother” og det viser en blandingsfigur med elementer fra Supermand, Batman og Fantomet og i baggrunden ses Twin Towers i brand. Billedet virkede utroligt stærkt på mig, på den elegante, men samtidig følsomme måde og det bekræftede mit verdensbillede og dertil hørende bekymring.
Galleriet begynder, som nævnt, med en kunstner som netop kan stille vedkommende spørgsmål. Med Vuk Vidor problematiseres den vestlige heltedyrkelse og banaliseringen af konflikter set med serbiske-franske øjne. Der gives absolut ingen svar her. Tegneserieheltenes talebobler er ladt helt blanke, beskueren må selv finde frem til svaret.
Jeg ærgrer mig den dag i dag over, at jeg ikke købte maleriet, men jeg havde ikke råd dengang. Jeg har truffet Vuk ved flere lejligheder siden, senest ved Biennalen i Venedig i sommer, og her kunne vi lave en aftale om den udstilling vi står overfor nu.
Det er nu 5 år siden jeg begyndte at bevæge mig indenfor denne udfordrende kunstverden. Det er godt et år siden jeg slap tøjlerne som erhvervsassundør i Alm Brand, og hvilket år det har været! Med projekter som Ducati motorcyklerne og den følgende udstilling i hele Danmark for Bestseller Koncernen, De 4 fredagsferniseringer i Strandvejsvillaen i sommer osv, sammen med et på salgsiden helt igennem fantastisk år. Derfor glæder det mig, at slå dørene op for mere end 200 kvm nyrenoverede lokaler i hjertet af det gamle København. Det skal være et frirum for galleriets faste, men også gæsteudstillende kunstnere. Et permanent og centralt punkt i den københavnske VUK VIDOR · FEBRUARY 2008
Morten.Poulsen
Morten Poulsen seen by Vuk Vidor
Hans værker, som udover malerier også tæller tegninger, video, fotografier og laserskårede metalrelieffer, passer perfekt til galleriets kunstneriske linie, hvorfor han nu indgår i galleriets faste hold af kunstnere. Vuk´s billeder har holdning, de er underholdende, de er politiske og så er det utroligt flot lavet, helt igennem kvalitet.
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Terror Mask 路 2008 路 Lazercut Steelplate
GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
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Man ser popinspirerede billeder med store superheltefigurer i flotte farver der er malet med stor akkuratesse. De befinder sig tilsyneladende i mismodige tilstande med baggrunde der visuelt leder tankerne mod Amerika. Det første man tænker er, at her er da sandelig ikke en diskret kunstner. Og det er ikke helt forkert. Vuk er ikke hoppet med på den avantgardistiske tilbageholdenhed. Leder du efter matematiske formler, ordintellektuel mystisk og cirklernes indbyrdes leg så er du gået forgæves. Det er meget mere amerikansk. Selvom Vuk er fra Serbien. Det er praktisk anvendeligt uden krumspring med en yderst hjælpsom titel. Det er teknisk godt lavet med en farveholdning der er ligeså konkret som de problemer de behandler. For hvad er det end ikke en superhelt kan redde os fra nu? For er det ikke netop superheltene der som den ultimative redning kan fjerne selv den mest overhængende trussel? Er det ikke netop superheltene der i den underholdningsindustri der til dels har skabt både Amerika og myten om Amerika der kan redde jorden fra den visse undergang? Ikke længere. Problemerne er vokset til en anden skala end den de fleste er opvokset med. Nu er det klimaet, en seksdobling af valutamængden og krige udkæmpet på den anden side af jorden der truer den sidste rest af idyl. Og hvad fortæller billederne om det som superheltene/politikerne forsøger at fortælle os svage tilskuere til dette morads? Intet. Taleboblerne er tomme. Magten kommer ingen til gavn. Det er ikke kun dollaren der er i bund, middelmådigheden er også ved at ramme bunden. Men er der håb? Måske. De er i hvert fald i god form de kære superhelte, musklerne ser blændende ud. Er der alligevel et rigtigt menneske i præsidenten og hans folk som kan rette op på situationen og ikke altid give folk det de beder om som moderen der kun giver sønnen slik? Er der kød på markedet? Lever der stadig en lille pige inde i Britney? Det er den fine balance mellem popart, æstetik og politik der gør Vuk til et spændende bekendtskab. Kedeligt er det ikke! - Michael Jeppesen, journalist
VUK VIDOR · FEBRUARY 2008
The American Quartet is a political project? This panel is a serie of painting and laser cut sculptures using the tools of comics art, and its numerous pop art appropriations to define a new situation of the world’s political and power landscape. America, land of the superheroes, is confronted with the possibility of becoming the most hated country on the planet, and through its imperialistic attempts to control the world has put itself in a situation, where its very own emblematic values are being turned upside down. The symbol the USA represented for so long, seems to turn into a negation of itself, where its heroes become either helpless or villains. It is in a way the illustration of how an ideal becomes perverted and inverted. Like kryptonite making superman helpless and weak, so are politics today making the USA fragile and vulnerable, like they’ve never thought they could be. Fear, paranoia, and war are only some of the possible reactions. This situation which in itself is a contemporary version of a History repeating its own patterns, and that can be illustrated by the “POP” aspect of the paintings is like a sugar-coating for a bitter reality. Using quickly identifiable elements to push an idea faster in the viewer’s mind. I never believed Art could have the political incidence or any power to “move” things or create any awareness in people about anything bad happening on the planet. Fine Arts are too limited in range and too linked to capital for survival to be truly effective! But then again, all art can be political and, in its way, illustrate the problems and issues. And that’s what can make an artist relevant – his ability, pertinence and power to take reality, sublimate it, transform it and then share it with others. And that too is political in essence…. Vuk Vidor
GALLERY POULSEN · COPENHAGEN
VUK VIDOR 路 FEBRUARY 2008
Come To Us 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
Cryflag 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
VUK VIDOR 路 FEBRUARY 2008
DSCO 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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Hard on USA 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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EXHIBITING ARTIST DATA SHEET
Name:VUK VIDOR Age:THE ROARING FORTIES Place of birth BELGRADE, SERBIA Base:PARIS, FRANCE Status:HYBRID ARTIST Ambitions EXPLORE AS MANY POSSIBILITIES, OPEN AS MANY DOORS, MAKE AS MANY WORKS AS IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT FOR US TO DO IT... Art turn on:INNER WORLDS, WORKS THAT OPERATE A SUBLIMATION FROM THE ORDINARY , THE KNOWN, THE USUAL TO THE EXTRAORDINARY, THE UNKNOWN AND THE DIFFERENT AND IN THE PROCESS CREATE MEANINGS,FORMS AND YES, BEAUTY.... Art turn of: COPY/PASTE ART THAT DEPENDS ONLY ON REALITY, ART WITH USER GUIDES AND BOLLOCKS VERBAL JUSTIFICATIONS, SPIRITUAL VOID, BLANKNESS... Greatest living female artist:LOUISE BOURGEOIS, KIKI SMITH Greatest living male artist.MATTHEW BARNEY, KEITH TYSON, Favourite art ism:DADAISM
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Hypnotized 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
The Mirror Conspiracy 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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The Powerline 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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The Sound of Victory 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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The Fast and The Furious 路 2008 路 290x190 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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Different Works on Paper 路 2008 路 150x110 cm 路 Ink on Paper
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GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
Different Works on Paper 路 2008 路 150x110 cm 路 Ink on Paper
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Powerless 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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Terrormask 2 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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OFFICIAL CV OF VUK VIDOR Born in Belgrade, Serbia Graduated at the Ecole d’Architecture de Paris Tolbiac Lives and works in Paris
................................................................................. SOLO SHOWS 2007 “Even Superheroes can’t save us now!”, Cueto Project, New York , USA “Superego”, CZKD, Pavilion Veljkovic, Belgrade, Serbia 2006 “If you’re looking for trouble you came to the right place”, galerie Valerie Cueto, Paris “The Blood Value of the Banana”, wall painting, Palais de Tokyo , Paris 2005 “If you’re looking for trouble you came to the right place”, Art Basel Miami, USA “Eldorado” Arco Madrid, galerie Valerie Cueto 2004 “If you’re looking for trouble you came to the right place”, CZKD, Belgrade “Eldorado”, Galerie Valerie Cueto, Paris “ART HISTORY (PART ONE)” wall painting -Palais de Tokyo, Paris
2003 “New Adventures of the Skin Trade” Galerie Valerie Cueto, Paris 2002 “Supercellular!”, Galerie Valerie Cueto, Paris (avec Dzine, Peter Barrett, Tim White) 1999 “Last Painting of the Century“, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris “Last Painting of the Century“, Pictureshow Gallery, Berlin 1998 “Shift UNited”, l’Aquarium/Emmanuel Javogue, Paris 1997 Vuk Vidor, Galerie municipale de Vitry-sur-Seine “Transformers“ ( Fabrice Domercq, Fabrice Langlade, Vuk Vidor) CZKD, Belgrade, Yougoslavie 1996 Galerie Nova, Ibiza, Espagne 1995 “Give me back my flag“ CZKD, Belgrade, Yougoslavie Musée d’Art Moderne, Kragujevac, Yougoslavie Galerie 12 +, Belgrade, Yougoslavie ................................................................................. GROUP SHOWS 2007 “The Theatre of Cruelty”, curated by Raul Zamudio, White Box, New York
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.................................................................................................. “Zeitgeist”, Cueto Project, New York, USA “French Touche”, Villa Tamaris, La Seyne sue Mer, France “48th Oktobarski Salon”, Belgrade, Serbia, curated by Lorand Hegyi 2006 “Shangai Art Fair”, Emmanuel Javogue Fine Arts “Faites de Beaux Reves” in > “Nuit Blanche”, Paris, curated by Nicolas Bourriaud & Jerome Sans 2005 “Artists & Arms” Maars Gallery, Moscow, Russia “My Private Heroes” Marta Herford Museum, Herford, Germany “My favourite things”, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon, curated by Richard Leydier 2004 Art Brussels, Galerie Valerie Cueto “COSMOPOLIS”,curated by Magda Carneci, Thessaloniki, Greece 2003 “Central:New Art from Central Europe” organised by the Ernst Hilger Gallery-Vienna. Museum of Contemporary Art, Dubrovnik; Art Pavilion, Belgrade Art Chicago, Chicago, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris “Scope Art Fair”, New York “Comic Release:Negotiating Identity for a New Generation”, curated by Barbara Bloeminck (Guggenheim Las Vegas) and Vicky A. Clark. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg; New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans; University of North Texas, Denton; Western Washington University; the Contemporary Museum, Honolulu; The Naples Museum of Art; Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT; Austin Museum of Art; Samuel P. Harn Museum (University of Florida) Arte Fiere, Bologna, Italy, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris
ARCO, Madrid, Galerie Valerie Cueto 2002 Scope 2002, Miami Artissima, Torino, Galerie Valerie Cueto ARCO, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris Art Chicago 2002, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Chicago Salon d’Octobre 02, Belgrade 2001 “Blanc“, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris 2000 “Rouge“, Galerie Valérie Cueto, Paris “L’Autre Europe /2 “, Galerie du Jeu de Paume, Paris 1996 “Un cadeau unique“, Galerie Lucien Durand, Paris “Novembre à Vitry“, Vitry-sur-Seine 1995 “Image pour Sarajevo“, Galerie Le Sous-Sol 1994 Salon de Montrouge, L’art au marché, Paris 1993 “Découvertes“, Galerie Philippe Uzan, Paris Salon de mai, Grand Palais, Paris “Falling astronauts“, Louvain-la-Neuve / Anvers, Belgique 1992 “Découvertes“ Galerie Philippe Uzan, Paris “Jeune Peinture“ Grand Palais ................................................................................. PRIZES Prix de Peinture de la ville de Vitry-sur-Seine 1996 Ito Ham Prize, Paris /Tokyo 1986
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GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
VIDOR “EVEN SUPERHEROES CAN’T SAVE US NOW!” - an exhibition of paintings and laser cut sculptures by FrancoSerbian artist Vuk Vidor text by Silvia Karman Cubina, 2007 This exhibition is the second part of a project titled “American Quartet”, in which the artist deals with his interpretations of symbols and archetypes as seen through the current prism of todays America. Appropriating comic strip superhero characters, Vidor lavishly represents them as tired, deflated and defeated figures, infiltrated and disarmed by fear. These colorful and at first, seemingly pop paintings show figures in pensive and vulnerable poses and situations. Vidor uses them to describe his view of America and the world’s current political and power landscape. The “pop” aethetic used by the artist has a purposefully cloying effect when set against the sombre subject-matter of the works. In a few of the paintings, for example, the superhero characters are depicted with a conversation bubble with no words. Traditionally, comic book conversation bubbles express power with words such as ‘bam’ and ‘pow’ whereas these empty one convey silence. In a more subtle manner, the viewer also comes across religious references and Christian imagery, more precisely the Passion of Christ which can be found in most of the paintings in the exhibition.
VUK VIDOR · FEBRUARY 2008
Vuk Vidors laser-cut sculptures are fantastically sparse works created with minimal, linear gestures. His characters are depicted as contorted forms and even seem to be dripping or melting. His drawings, presented in a secuence similar to comic strips present non-linear narratives of a superhero and his perils. These drawings contain appropriately ominous phrases such as ‘an eye for an eye’, ‘the peril and the power’ and ‘what price life’, setting the tone and serving as a catalyst for their reading. In one of the laser cut sculptures, the word ‘terror’ is inscribed in the same font and style as in Halloween decorations, again subversively creating tension by drawing in this childlike pop element and pairing it with serious political connotations. Part one of ‘American Quartet’ first introduced the topic of fear by dealing with the image of the expired idol no longer symbolizing a Rock Star, but transformed into a paramilitary/terrorist. Part Three and Four will furtherexplore the topic of fear in a diversity of media: monumental sculpture, installation; and a film installation. The later will be loosely based on a novel by Sam Shepard and will question the stereotype of the Wild West and the Cowboy. As stated by the artist himself, America, Land of Modern Myths is confronted with the validity of the very myths which helped create the mightiest country on Earth. This project doesn’t have the pretension to be politically relevant, but only to question a possible reality and illustrate it. Which in essence, is also political....
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Terrormask 3 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
The Bitter Pill 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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The Downward Curve 路 2008 路 190x135 cm 路 Acrylic on Canvas
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GALLERY POULSEN 路 COPENHAGEN
Yellow Captain · 2008 · 160x130 cm · Acrylic on Canvas
Flag · 2008 · Lasercut Steelplate
VUK VIDOR · FEBRUARY 2008
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GALLERY POULSEN · COPENHAGEN
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