English
Rodney Graham (1949, Abbotsford, Canada), one of the most influential conceptual artists at this moment, presents in The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Macba), ‘Through the Forest’, an exhibition that explores the evolution of this fundamental artist’s work through 250 pieces. One of the aims of this important exhibition is to finish with the preconceived idea that conceptual art doesn’t have to do with beauty and sensibility. Regarding this, the curator of the exhibition declared that he invites spectators to view Graham’s work as a peaceful walk through the forest, ‘to discover a beauty that it is not 100% clear but 100% art’.
During this forest walk, visitor can see Rodney Graham’s complex artistic career over and over again through 250 works, which include light-boxes, books, videos, sculptures, paintings, photographs, installations, printed material and music. There are two spectacular sections in ‘Through the forest’: in the first one, Graham is a sleepwalking amateur painter who attempts to reproduce a large-format abstract painting that had obviously interested him when he was studying art. The scene in the light-box piece makes it look like a film still.
The other one, Rheinmetall/Victoria 8 is an installation of a surrealistic image. Graham acquired an almost unused 1930s typewriter. First, he documented the object photographically, in the style of New Objectivity; he then covered it with flour to create a poignant image for words falling silent.
The artist’s work always shows source material deriving from his most important influences: Sigmund Freud, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, the Grimm brothers, Richard Wagner, Stéphane Mallarmé and, above all, Picasso. Precisely, the retrospective exhibition at Macba is accompanied by a special project at the Museu Picasso, which the artist has developed exclusively for Barcelona. You have time until April 18th. When you come to the Catalan city, book Apartments in Barcelona and visit this great exhibition. You won’t be disappointed!
