Category Archives: art fairs

Northern Star: Ylva Ogland and Karl Holmquvist

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This installation from Ylva Ogland and Karl Holmquvist formed an immersive environment at the Fruit and Flower Deli booth at the Armory Show. The Stockholm gallery was part of the Armory Focus: The Nordic Countries section. The pelts, tents, and star made me think of the nomadic Sami people of Lapland. (I wish I could find more information instead of just supplying my conjecture, but there is not much on the internet about this and I’ve lost my papers from the show.) Juxtaposed against these element were traditional “fine art” on the easel and the walls. Two large facing canvases mirror each other, and creating a dialogue between the naked woman and her twin.

Better image of the installation here. 

Carlos Garaicoa: White on White

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Photo-topography, Carlos Garaicoa.  Galleria Continua at the Armory Show 2012.

It looked like styrofoam in person, but apparently artist Caralos Garaicoa transferred photographs to polyspan (I suspect a material a lot like styrofoam) to create these white images.

Garaicoa is a Cuban artist who tends to explore Cuba’s identity and politics through its buildings. These archetectural scenes were clearly composed, but the precision of them crumbles away as you look closer.

Marilyn [sic] Monroe according to Philippe Parreno

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Marilyn Monroe, in preparation of a spiritual tension (5 parts) is a new work by Phillipe Parreno that was on view at the Armory at the Pilar Corrias Gallery. I typically don’t think words are used well in art pieces, but these are an exception. These dreamy images were beautifully done.

The Algerian-born artist lives and works in France. There’s a nice interview with Parreno from 2010 in the Guardian that discusses the enviorment-based works he more typically creates. Objects like these drawings are rarer for him, and he says that “‘Art is filled with things that aren’t so much objects but quasi-objects.’ What are they then? ‘Objects whose existence is dependent on their context’.” These drawings still suggest an involved story without the extensive environment he sometimes creates.

I saw more examples of the artist’s work on the Pilar Corrias website, including these (involving penguins):

We might be soulmates. 😉