Skuta Helgason, FF Alumn, at Art in General, through December 2, 2001
Art in General Launches 20th Anniversary on October 9th, 2001 with Opening of Public Art Installations Along Canal Street and an Exhibition Program Exploring the Roots of the Fluxus Movement
Fluxus Genetics
October 9 through December 2, 2001
In a process modeled on that of DNA analysis, the New York-based artist Skúta
Helgason will transform Gallery 4 into a laboratory equipped to trace the ancestry
and posterity of the Fluxus movement in Fluxus Genetics, on view October 9 through
December 2, 2001. Adopting the role of laboratory technician, the artist will
explore popular culture of the 1950s and 1960s to dissect the lineage of Fluxus
and, at the same time, anatomize the work of young artists to determine the
movement's aesthetic legacy.
The first component of Fluxus Genetics will be the search for the "parentage" of Fluxus. In his role as laboratory technician, Helgason will start with what George Maciunas explicitly acknowledged as influences on Fluxus and will extend this map of Fluxus antecedents with his own research. The cultural and artistic "genetic strains" discovered will be installed as a simulated living room environment of the 1950s, with books, recordings, movies, TV programs and other objects serving as specimens of the cultural "DNA" that spawned the Fluxus movement. In conjunction with Fluxus Genetics, the Fluxus Archive, curated by Luiza Interlenghi (New York, NY) will consist of a cabinet loaded with photos, texts and reproductions of original materials from Fluxus artists. The information will be stored in a labyrinth of different drawers and compartments in the cabinet and will serve as a resource for tracing the emergence of the Fluxus experience.
Adjacent to the living room created by Helgason will be a second installation environment entitled the "Laboratorium." In this "on-site lab," Helgason will attempt to trace Fluxus "DNA strains" in the work of contemporary artists. He will review slide registries of contemporary artists, which will serve as large scale "blood banks." In addition, Helgason will invite individual artists to bring or send documentation of their work to the "Laboratorium" for in-depth genetic analysis seeking the Fluxus gene. The work of these contemporary artists will be given an F.S. (Fluxus Strain) test, and four artists with strong F.S. results will then be invited to use the room environment to present their work.
Audio/Elevator
What?, October 9 to December 2, 2001
Skúta Helgason (New York, NY)
An audio montage of humorous films and audio recordings from the first half
of the 20th century.
For further information,
please contact Art in General at (212) 219-0473