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Megan Rooney at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Artist: Megan Rooney

Exhibition title: Fire On The Moun­tain

Curated by: Anna Lena Seiser

Venue: Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

Date: May 18 – August 11, 2019

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney (b. 1985) is an enig­mat­ic sto­ry­teller whose work ex­pands across paint­ing, per­for­mance, writ­ten and spo­ken word, sculp­ture, and in­stal­la­tion. In most­ly site-spe­cif­ic ar­range­ments, she com­bines the in­di­vid­u­al com­po­nents in­to large-scale in­stal­la­tions. Rooney’s ref­er­ences en­gage with ma­te­ri­al­i­ty and the hu­man sub­ject and are deeply in­vest­ed in the pre­sent mo­ment: the fes­ter­ing chaos of pol­i­tics with its myr­i­ad cru­el­ties and the laden vi­o­lence of our so­ci­ety, so res­i­dent in the home, in the fe­male, in the body.
Af­ter grow­ing up be­tween South Africa, Brazil, and Cana­da, Rooney has lived in Lon­don for the past ten years. She draws the sub­jects of her works di­rect­ly from life and her sur­round­ings. These are whim­si­cal and in some cas­es grotesque ev­ery­day ex­pe­ri­ences, hu­mor­ous ob­ser­va­tions, as well as gloomy sce­nar­ios, and pas­sion­ate col­or com­po­si­tions.

A con­sti­tu­tive and re­cur­ring el­e­ment in Megan Rooney’s works is the hu­man body, which can be seen as the sub­jec­tive start­ing point and fi­nal place of sed­i­men­ta­tion for all these ex­pe­ri­ences.

Her paint­ings and in­stal­la­tions are pop­u­lat­ed with pe­cu­liar char­ac­ters, body parts, and faces that raise ques­tions re­gard­ing the vul­ner­a­bil­i­ty and the in­fir­mi­ty of the body as such and the fe­male body in par­tic­u­lar. The artist’s use of ma­te­ri­als al­so re­flects her in­ter­est in our ac­tu­al and dai­ly sur­round­ings: House­hold items such as clean­ing rags en­counter ma­te­ri­als used to close off con­struc­tion sites; in­dus­tri­al bar­rels, dog toys, or golf clubs are com­bined with found ob­jects from the ur­ban space. Small hero­ics and ob­jects that we tend to over­look take cen­ter stage in Rooney’s work while she is care­ful­ly map­ping the ex­te­ri­or and in­te­ri­or land­scape of our so­ci­ety and strength­en­ing our sen­si­tiv­i­ty for ev­ery­day epics.

Fire on the Moun­tain is Megan Rooney’s first in­sti­tu­tion­al so­lo ex­hi­bi­tion in Ger­many. Specif­i­cal­ly for the space of the Kun­sthalle Düssel­dorf, the artist cre­at­ed a new body of work cen­tered around a large-scale, site-spe­cif­ic mu­ral sev­en­teen by eight me­ters in size.An ad­di­tion­al com­po­nent of the ex­hi­bi­tion is the three-part per­for­mance se­ries EV­ERY­WHERE BEEN THERE, which Rooney de­vel­oped in co­op­er­a­tion with the chore­og­ra­pher Temi­tope Ajose-Cut­ting and the mu­si­cian Pao­lo Thors­en-Nagel. The per­for­mance will pre­miere in three con­sec­u­tive chap­ters on 24, 25, and 26 May 2019 in the ex­hi­bi­tion space.

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire on the Mountain, 2019, Acrylic, pencil, pastel, wall paint on wall, 800 × 1.700 cm (315 × 669 1/4 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire on the Mountain, 2019, Acrylic, pencil, pastel, wall paint on wall, 800 × 1.700 cm (315 × 669 1/4 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire on the Mountain, 2019, Acrylic, pencil, pastel, wall paint on wall, 800 × 1.700 cm (315 × 669 1/4 inches)

Megan Rooney, Three graces, 2019, Steel, umbrellas, paint, rope, concrete blocks, sandbags, sand, cigs, Three parts: Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Three graces, 2019, Steel, umbrellas, paint, rope, concrete blocks, sandbags, sand, cigs, Three parts: Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Three graces, 2019, Steel, umbrellas, paint, rope, concrete blocks, sandbags, sand, cigs, Three parts: Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Kaputt! Kaputt!, 2019, Oil barrel, paint, concrete, baseball hat, car shammy, sunglasses, fabric, golf club, Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Kaputt! Kaputt!, 2019, Oil barrel, paint, concrete, baseball hat, car shammy, sunglasses, fabric, golf club, Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Kaputt! Kaputt!, 2019, Oil barrel, paint, concrete, baseball hat, car shammy, sunglasses, fabric, golf club, Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Kaputt! Kaputt!, 2019, Oil barrel, paint, concrete, baseball hat, car shammy, sunglasses, fabric, golf club, Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Kaputt! Kaputt!, 2019, Oil barrel, paint, concrete, baseball hat, car shammy, sunglasses, fabric, golf club, Dimensions variable

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Moon Fire Tongue, 2019, Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm (78 3/4 × 59 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Swaying like a Sunday choir, 2019, Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm (78 3/4 × 59 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Homespun, 2019, Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm (78 3/4 × 59 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Selfportrait, 2019, Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm (78 3/4 × 59 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, 7 Lives, 2019, Acrylic, pastel, oil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm (78 3/4 × 59 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, exhibition view, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Untitled (from the series Old baggy root), 2019, Acrylic, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel on paper, each: 56 × 38 cm (22 × 15 inches)

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019,  Performance photos, Directed by Megan Rooney, Choreography by Temitope Ajose-Cutting, Sound by Paolo Thorsen-Nagel, Performed by Crystal Zillwood, Leah Marojevic, Megan Rooney, Temitope Ajose-Cutting, Paolo Thorsen-Nagel, Moira Rooney, Matilda Obonyo, Peace Izekor, Kathrin Heinrichs, Elodie Dea, Stephanie Sampson, Josephine Kogbe, Text by Megan Rooney, Costumes by Megan Rooney & Rachel Owen, Images by Katja Illner, All images Courtesy of the artist

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

Megan Rooney, Fire On The Moun­tain, 2019, Performance photos, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf

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