Martin Kersels
5 May - 15 June 2004
pictures
Wensday May 5 th. 2004, from 06.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. at Guido Costa Projects, Via Mazzini 24 in Turin, the opening of “Illominous” a show of works by Martin Kersels.
One of the best known and distinguished artists amoung the Los Angeles Scene, Martin Kersels started as a collaborator/performer with “SHRIMPS”, a Californian cult dance ensemble that began in the 80’s and carried on into the 90’s. It was a group always on the edge between radical sculpture, installation art and happenings.
His work, often filled with a sharp sense of humor and a peculiar taste of paradox, made him famous as a newcomer talent within the U.S. art world, offering him chances to show in some of the most important American Museums (MASS MoCa, Los Angeles MoCa, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art) and also in several European Collections (such as the Saatchi Collection in London and the Centre Pompidou Collection in Paris).
His eclectic talent, ready to cross over from sculpture to experimental photowork, from video art to performance, Martin Kersels shows a unique style. His work is front loaded with gigantism and complexity, always drawing with simple and distinctive lines, fed with primitive and poor materials, wild at first sight.
Martin Kersels show, produced by Guido Costa Projects, mantains his vocations for paradox, connecting the naked simple materiality (blown glass in this case) with a sophisticated and complex installation and transforming the gallery into a cavern.
Almost a metaphisic Cavern, enlivened by reflections and light contrasts, it is a place where the opposites play games with themselves.
All the exhibited works, produced between Murano and Damanhur, tells about time and the neverchanging, water and fire, slightly springing from magic realism and cartoons, creating fascinating suggestions of low and high tech, tragedy and comedy.
The Gallery will be open ‘til June 15 th. 2004, from Monday to Saturday (11.00 / 13.00 a.m. – 03.00 / 07.00 p.m. ).
Thaks to:
Mahatma Marchi – glass – Damanhur
Sergio Barboni – wood and metal – Torino
Algieri gas – gas system – Torino
Brother & Brother – Light equipment - Milano