Art & Art History
The Presence of Absence: New Installations
Artists: Judith Barry, Daniel Buren, Daniel Collins, Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, Patrick Ireland, Justen Ladda, Sol Lewitt, Lorie Novak, Buky Schwartz, Leni Schwendinger, Lawrence Weiner, and Krzysztof Wodiczko
It is rare that a museum or gallery has the opportunity to truly re-create works of art, thus playing an active and essential role in the fulfillment of an artist’s vision. The Presence of Absence: New Installations was an exhibition that realized these opportunities. Thirteen installation works were created by the artists: Judith Barry, Daniel Buren, Daniel Collins, Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, Patrick Ireland, Justen Ladda, Sol Lewitt, Lorie Novak, Buky Schwartz, Leni Schwendinger, Lawrence Weiner, and Krzysztof Wodiczko. These works were then created anew according to instructions prepared by the artists, with the intention that the gallery’s and installers ’ interpretations would coincide in the construction of the conceptual pieces. Every work in the exhibition required the participation of others to be executed. The Presence of Absence was a highly unusual exhibition, since the participating artists shipped no art objects to the gallery. Each work was created on-site. All of the pieces were conceived to utilize the gallery’s architecture (walls, ceilings, floors, etc.) as their sole support.
The artists invited interpretation of their works, beginning with their construction, which resulted in variations in their executions. The original interpretations of the pieces were first displayed in the gallery alone, and then UIC graduate students re-interpreted the works with their own variations for the second half of the installation period.
PRINT COLLATERAL
Postcard: The Presence of Absence: New Installations
PRESS RELEASE
The Presence of Absence: New Installations
Gallery 400
Chicago, IL
January 11-February 24, 1989
It is rare that a museum or gallery has the opportunity to truly re-create works of art, thus playing an active and essential role in the realization of an artist’s vision. The Presence of Absence: New Installations is an exhibition that realized these opportunities. Thirteen installations works were created by artists: Judith Barry, Daniel Buren, Daniel Collins, Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, Patrick Ireland, Justen Ladda, Sol LeWitt, Lorie Novak, Buky Schwartz, Leni Schwan-dinger, Lawrence Weiner, and Krzystof Wodiczko. These works will be created anew according with instructions prepared by the artists with the idea of the gallery’s and installer’s interpretations coinciding to the conceptual piece. Every work in the exhibition requires the participation of others to be executed. These works have invited interpretation and result in the variations of their executions. The works with no variations on the interpretations will be seen from January 11th through January 28th. Then UIC graduate students will re-interpret these works with their variations from February 3rd through February 22, 1989.
It is a highly unusual exhibition since no art objects are shipped by the artists participating. Each work is created on the site. All of the pieces have been conceived to utilize the gallery’s architecture (walls, ceilings, floors, etc.) as their sole support.
EXHIBITION CHECKLIST
Judith Barry (re-interpreted by John Terdich)
The Absent Presence, 1987
Installation.
Daniel Buren (re-interpreted by Simon Grennan & Steve Williams)
Serigraphed Wall, 1987
Installation.
Daniel Collins
Virtual America IV, 1987
Acrylic on contact paper.
Dan Graham (re-interpreted by Wayne Draznin)
Projections on a Gallery Window, 1979
Slide installation.
Jenny Holzer (re-interpreted by Irene Malhoney)
Electronic signboard installtion.
Patrick Ireland (re-interpreted by Susan Peterson)
Rear View Mirror, 1986
Installation.
Justen Ladda (re-interpreted by David Lefkowitz)
Square, 1980
Installation.
Sol LeWitt (re-interpreted by Sonja Tanton)
A vertical line from floor to ceiling. Through its midpoint, a horizontal line of equal length.
Additional lines through the midpoint of the vertcal line.
All lines are of equal length, and intersect at their midpoints.
(The number of additional lines is determined by the draftsman), 1987
Installation.
Lorie Novak (re-interpreted by Dana Sireno-Krypel)
Critical Distance, 1987-88
Slide installation.
Buky Schwartz (re-interpreted by Bonnie Hughes-Hodges)
Three Angles of Observation, 1987
Installation.
Lawrence Weiner (re-interpreted by Kara Hetz)
A 36″ X 36″ removal to the lathing or support wall plaster or wallboard from a wall, 1968
Installation.
Krzytof Wodiczko (re-interpreted by Chris Sperandio)
The Real Estate Projection, 1987
Slide installation.
The Presence of Absence: New Installations
Essay by Nina Felshin
Independent Curators Incorporated, 1988
56 pp., 8.25 x 10.5 in., with black and white reproductions
This catalogue can be purchased for $XX.00 plus shipping by calling Gallery 400 at 312 996 6114.
EXHIBITION SUPPORT
The Presence of Absence: New Installations is supported by the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Art and Design’s College of Architecture, Art and Urban Planning.