 Interior Installation View with "Water" (left) and "Version 2000" (right) Markus Wetzel out of the bag James Nicholson Gallery is pleased to announce a site-specific installation by Swiss artist Markus Wetzel. Markus Wetzel positions himself at the intersection of art and technology. A recurring theme in his work is the idea of an island envisioned as a paradise in which to work and live. To express his yearning for escape, Wetzel fabricates islands and seascapes out of wall-size computer-generated prints, video, and sculpture. Unable to find an idealized paradise in nature, Wetzel instead constructs his landscapes entirely in the computer using a 3-D modeling program. For this exhibition, Wetzel will take over the gallery with an all-enveloping installation that brings to life his particular vision of paradise. Visitors entering the gallery are surrounded by a gigantic blackness as you find yourself inside the belly of a rough-hewn cave sculpted in slick garbage bag plastic. Wetzel places you within the cavity of an island, allowing you to experience the protective nature of his ideal live/work space. As your eyes adjust to the darkness of this strange underworld, you discover objects floating around you. An undulating image of a watery landscape dotted with small islands curves to your left like a wave flipped on its side. You find yourself swimming in a mysterious ocean towards a distant island hovering on the horizon. Wetzel brings the outside in, using the interior shell of his island to display the romantic paradise that awaits you on the exterior. In forcing the viewer to experience the sensation of being both inside and outside of his island, Wetzel exposes you to the dual nature of his utilitarian haven. The feeling of sanctuary is complete as Wetzel confronts you with the chaotic nature of the dangerous world you have left behind. Projected in an adjoining space is a video of a tempestuous sea produced by a camera rocking back and forth across the length of a 1796 painting by the English painter J.M.W. Turner of fishermen battling to stay afloat in a storm. As a final touch, Wetzel offers you the possibility of turning his fantasy into your reality by displaying ads found on the Internet of actual islands for sale. Wetzel is currently participating in the International Studio & Curatorial Program in New York City. Since beginning his artistic career, he has received numerous Swiss grants and prizes. While Wetzel has exhibited extensively in Europe, this show marks his United States debut. Markus Wetzel lives and works in New York City and Zurich, Switzerland. Exhibition: January 7– February 21, 2004 Gallery Hours: Tue-Fri 11am - 5:30pm, Sat 11am - 5pm James Nicholson Gallery 49 Geary Street, 4th Floor USA-San Francisco, CA 94108 Telephone +1 415 397 0100 Fax +1 415 397 0155 Email: info@nicholsongallery.com www.nicholsongallery.com |
 |