Formal Comparison: Isa Genzken and Vasa-Velizar Mehic

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I think you could also categorize this as: “things you find in the library when you should be working on your thesis.” That aside, I thought this was a striking formal comparison between Genzken’s and Mehic’s work, although certainly serendipitous rather than evidence of a connection between the contemporary German artist and the older Yugoslavian aartist. Having recently seen the Genzken show at MoMA though,  it popped out at me.

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Isa Genzken’s building representing Berlin’s buildings made by leaning colored glass panes at MoMA’s current Isa Genzken: Retrospective. Part of her 2004 series “New Buildings for Berlin.”

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Vasa-Velizar Mehic’s Bouquet (1970) in the Belgrade Museum of Contemporary Art, found in a book in the library called The Museums of Yugoslavia, which dates it pretty clearly.

Recovered (almost) from the BORDERS Exhibition

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The artists, co-curator, and myself at the exhibition opening

Back from Berlin, and feeling like I have finally caught up on my sleep after a long week installing, opening, and taking down BORDERS, the group exhibition I curated with Trevor Amery. It was such an interesting process curating this virtually. Between this blog and my current work, much of my life is online, so to speak, but organizing an art exhibition in Berlin from my computer in Budapest took it to the next level. Also, my co-curator, who lives in a different city in Hungary, and I would Skype and email to make up for the few in-person meetings. Yet somehow it all came together–and it’s hard to imagine how it could have gone smoother.

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BORDERS was a group show featuring the work of nine artists working throughout Europe, from Greenland to Turkey. Hanging all the works–with the inevitable changes and challenges once you saw them in the space–was such a fun process. Seeing the gallery space for the first time, meeting the artists, installing their works all had the joy of discovery, as well as the feeling of finally meeting old friends.  And seeing old and new friends from the US, Berlin, and many, many other places at the opening was such a rewarding experience. Truly it would not have been possible had it not been such a collaborative effort from all involved. The great guys at Staycation Museum were such a help throughout.

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I only wish I had had the chance to see more of Berlin itself! More photos here and here.

BORDERS Exhibition

BORDERSfb BORDERS, an exhibition of nine American artists currently on Fulbright grants in Europe, is being curated by myself and co-curator and artist Trevor Amery. Exploring the notion of geographical and cultural boundaries, the BORDERS Berlin Fulbright Exhibition is the first-ever exhibition of Fulbright grantees. It coincides with the German Fulbright Commission’s Berlin Seminar, which brings together current grantees in all disciplines, and it gives the visual artists a chance to present their work to each other, the Fulbright community, and Berlin. We’re in the 20-day countdown, and I’m really psyched about how it is all coming together and that the good folks at Staycation Museum are hosting us.

Please check out the exhibition website and Facebook invitation and, if you’re in Berlin March 19th, I hope you will join for the exhibition opening!