In this group show at Victoria Miro, which opens tonight, 12 international artists examine the ways in which elements of performance as a material might be used in the production (or reception) of their work. The exhibition takes its lead from the conceptual and performance artist Vito Acconci who in the early seventies decided to appear less in his work, so that his presence was more of an absence. 'Absent Without Leave' investigates the idea of the 'absentee performer' - an idea in which the 'performer' (the artist ) is relocated from a visible presence, to a presence which is recorded in the conceptual fabric of the art works themselves.
The exhibition features works in which: there is potential within an art object for action to happen, which may or may not necessarily occur; there is a live event without a performer; there is a physical trace of an event which in fact never occurred; or there is a possibility to read the environment as something staged, or as a set awaiting a narrative.
'Absent Without Leave' includes new commissions by Elmgreen & Dragset, Loris Gréaud, Terence Koh, Systems House, Andro Wekua and Jordan Wolfson; an installation of 40 new paintings by Dan Colen; and projects by Jeppe Hein, Kirsten Pieroth, Michael Sailstorfer and Andreas Zybach. A performance orchestrated by Roman Ondák will take place tonight at the opening.
'Absent Without Leave' has been curated by James Lindon and Erin Manns.
'Absent Without Leave'
17 February - 17 March
Victoria Miro Gallery
16 Wharf Road
London N1 7RW
T: 44 (0)20 7549 0490
www.victoria-miro.com
Andreas Zybach, 'Self-reproducing pedestal', 2005
Pneumatic bodies, plywood lattices, air pump, 98cm x 98cm x 30cm
Courtesy the artist, Galerie Martin Janda, Vienna
Kris Martin, 'De Profundis', 2007
Glass globe and crystal, with base
30 cm x ø 18cm (base: 120 x 40 x 40 cm)
Courtesy Sies Höke, Düsseldorf, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
Roman Ondák, 'The Stray Man', 2006
Performance / Video installation, wall projection (dimensions variable) or monitor
Mastered on Betacam SP, colour, sound
Duration 10 minutes 40 seconds, Edition of 3
Michael Sailstorfer, 'Zeit ist keine Autobahn', 2006
tyre, iron, elektronic engine, electric current, wall
100 x 100 x 70 cm
Courtesy Johann König, Berlin
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