FRAMEWORK 6: PARALLELISMS

Eli Cortiñas, Ingo Mittelstaedt, Sam Smith

insitu berlin

13.03.–03.05.2015

»Framework 6: parallelisms« consists of 2 exhibitions taking place consecutively and both featuring works by the three same artists: Eli Cortiñas, Ingo Mittelstaedt and Sam Smith.

With the desire to draw out different threads between the multi-layered practices of these artists, insitu collective invited an additional curator, An Paenhuysen, to see how shifts of curatorial perspectives can produce different exhibitions and ideas while working with the same artistic practices.

»Framework 6: parallelisms« is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, a series of exhibitions on the topic of ‘relationships, networks and connections' in which insitu collective established a series of formats or 'frameworks' for invited artists and curators to respond to.

Part 1:To Be Continued…

CURATED BY AN PAENHUYSEN

insitu Berlin

13.03.–28.03.2015

»To Be Continued…«, the first part of »Framework 6: parallelisms«, is an experiment in literary curating. It is inspired by the conversation that Paenhuysen had with the insitu collective team via the blog format, where each curator consecutively posted an image that was a response to the preceding one. The chain reaction/cadavre exquis method of this blog turned into a body of visual research on the work of Eli Cortiñas, Ingo Mittelstaedt and Sam Smith. Paenhuysen wrote a text based on this correspondence, which can be read as a loop. She then asked the artists to fill one blank page each by selecting a work that confirms, comments, opposes, ignores, hyper-affirms, or illustrates the text.

The exhibition »To Be Continued…« refers also to insitu collective’s concept of ›parallelisms‹, opening up the possibility for a continuation in the second part. A loop is a continuously repeated segment, whereas a parallelism employs a doubling or repetition while slightly changing the construction and therefore the meaning of the original paralleled concept. Within this Framework, An Paenhuysen provides a hint of a challenge to the insitu collective team – »What happens next?«

Part 2

CURATED BY insitu collective

insitu Berlin

10.04.–03.05.2015

With Part 2 of »Framework 6: parallelisms« insitu collective explores a common thread between the artists that can be compared with a shift of focus: showing the back rather than the front, illuminating absence, or turning a negative space into a positive. Within their practices, the artists take a high interest in the apparatus and processes of their respective mediums of film and photography. They look at what is often left out of the frame and the potential for the lens to distort and manipulate its captured subjects. Thinking within the mindset of a camera, with a twist of their artistic lens they shift focus away from what would typically be the ›subject‹.

In turn, our perspective is adjusted to either see the subject anew or reveal something that has been ›hiding in plain sight‹. Phenomena of perception shows how our brain is constantly ordering, selecting, neglecting and adding information to what we see. For example, when one focuses on a particular point, other objects in our vision fade away. This physiological blindspot therefore holds the potential to willfully hide and reveal areas within our vision. Conversely, following the principles of Gestalt theory (which is the ability of our brain to form wholes) we make up for ourselves what is usually unseen. The artists take apart what we usually see as a whole, dissecting it to uncover the parts that are often subsumed into the grand picture.

»Framework 6: parallelisms« is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, a series of exhibitions on the topic of ‘relationships, networks and connections' in which insitu collective established a series of formats or 'frameworks' for invited artists and curators to respond to.

22.10.2016–21.01.2017

insitu Berlin (former location)
Kurfürstenstrasse 21–22, Berlin-Schöneberg

This exhibition is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, which also included:
»Framework 1: extrasensory bonds«
»Framework 2: feel at home«
»Framework 3: meet your idol«
»Framework 4: across the lines«
»Framework 5:  O.K. The Musical (Pre-Production) / (Dress Rehearsals)«

Images top - bottom:

Eli Cortiñas »Confessions with an open curtain« (still) 2​011. Courtesy the artist. 

Ingo Mittelstaedt »RE: (Alexander Rodtschenko), Radiohörer (Porträt der Tochter Warwara)« 2015. Courtesy the artist. Posters with texts by curator An Paenhuysen. Photo: insitu e.V.

Poster with text by curator An Paenhuysen. Photo: insitu e.V.

left: Sam Smith »Frame, Lens« 2012; right: Ingo Mittelstaedt. »OXXXOXXXOXXOOOXOOXXOO« 2012/2013. Courtesy the artists. Photo: insitu e.V.

Ingo Mittelstaedt »OXXXOXXXOXXOOOXOOXXOO« 2012/2013. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

Ingo Mittelstaedt »OXXXOXXXOXXOOOXOOXXOO« 2012/2013. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

Part 1:To Be Continued…

CURATED BY AN PAENHUYSEN

insitu Berlin

13.03.–28.03.2015

»To Be Continued…«, the first part of »Framework 6: parallelisms«, is an experiment in literary curating. It is inspired by the conversation that Paenhuysen had with the insitu collective team via the blog format, where each curator consecutively posted an image that was a response to the preceding one. The chain reaction/cadavre exquis method of this blog turned into a body of visual research on the work of Eli Cortiñas, Ingo Mittelstaedt and Sam Smith. Paenhuysen wrote a text based on this correspondence, which can be read as a loop. She then asked the artists to fill one blank page each by selecting a work that confirms, comments, opposes, ignores, hyper-affirms, or illustrates the text.

The exhibition »To Be Continued…« refers also to insitu collective’s concept of ›parallelisms‹, opening up the possibility for a continuation in the second part. A loop is a continuously repeated segment, whereas a parallelism employs a doubling or repetition while slightly changing the construction and therefore the meaning of the original paralleled concept. Within this Framework, An Paenhuysen provides a hint of a challenge to the insitu collective team – »What happens next?«

Part 2

CURATED BY insitu collective

insitu Berlin

10.04.–03.05.2015

With Part 2 of »Framework 6: parallelisms« insitu collective explores a common thread between the artists that can be compared with a shift of focus: showing the back rather than the front, illuminating absence, or turning a negative space into a positive. Within their practices, the artists take a high interest in the apparatus and processes of their respective mediums of film and photography. They look at what is often left out of the frame and the potential for the lens to distort and manipulate its captured subjects. Thinking within the mindset of a camera, with a twist of their artistic lens they shift focus away from what would typically be the ›subject‹.

In turn, our perspective is adjusted to either see the subject anew or reveal something that has been ›hiding in plain sight‹. Phenomena of perception shows how our brain is constantly ordering, selecting, neglecting and adding information to what we see. For example, when one focuses on a particular point, other objects in our vision fade away. This physiological blindspot therefore holds the potential to willfully hide and reveal areas within our vision. Conversely, following the principles of Gestalt theory (which is the ability of our brain to form wholes) we make up for ourselves what is usually unseen. The artists take apart what we usually see as a whole, dissecting it to uncover the parts that are often subsumed into the grand picture.

»Framework 6: parallelisms« is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, a series of exhibitions on the topic of ‘relationships, networks and connections' in which insitu collective established a series of formats or 'frameworks' for invited artists and curators to respond to.