Artists: Nina Beier, David Horvitz, Gregory Kalliche, Andrea Longacre-White, Nicolas Lobo, Sofia Restorp, Sanke of Norway, Alison Veit, Tori Wrånes
Exhibition title: NOBODY OWNS THE BEACH
Organized and curated by: Blue Ruin (Agnes Bolt & Anna Frost)
Venue: Blue Ruin, Sunset Islands, Miami Beach, US
Date: December 5 – 10, 2017
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Blue Ruin
The exhibition uses the theme of seasickness to address the shifting, precarious state of our environmental and political situation. The ocean can represent a de-territorialized, utopic state but is also a symbol of instability and fluxus.
The artists in this exhibition examine a wide range of associations around our relationship with water. Nina Beier’s Human Resource Industries consist of a pair of size 55 basketball shoes worn by NBA All Star player Brook Lopez filled with artificial tears and synthetic sweat produced by the pharmaceutical and textile industries. The liquid representations of emotional and physical weariness are here conceived for unsentimental purposes. These stand-ins for the most delicate nature of human condition soak through the almost larger than life absorbent material slowly creating a puddle on the floor as the liquid escapes. Sofia Restorp’s work, a new commission, presents an Oceanside bungalow resembling a large insect, or a house on crutches, and offers bag juice to its visitors. Also a new commission, Nicolas Lobo launches an earthy filtration system using pool water so you can swim, then drink it afterwards. Gregory Kalliche’s future mythical video adapts the perspective of a lone reptile attempting to escape earth, either before humans existed or after. Tori Wrånes’ body parts are disjoined and faceless, lost in the eye of the storm, but they still seem to have good dance moves. Andrea Longacre-White’s rambling knots and hangings made from nautical-equestrian-climbing-bondage gear suggest the anchoring down of bodies, buildings, possessions; appeasing an insecurity, albeit highly fetishized, of tying down and guarding in unstable times. Alison Veit’s tactile and libidinous reliefs elicit a world that is at once ancient as it is futuristic. Sandy shapes sometimes revealing mirrors and sometimes bodies suspend a material that would otherwise slip back into the ocean. Sanke of Norway is an avant-luxury brand established by the artist Andreas Ervik. The hand-blown bottle is pristine but contains nothing more than water, re-bottled and re-branded from its native Norwegian spring. And finally, the works of David Horvitz reminds us that there are still a few places that belongs to everyone: not just the beach but Internet worm holes and other constantly shifting places.
Blue Ruin is a curatorial-business hybrid that examines the high-end real estate market through contemporary fine art exhibitions. With topical issues related to the home and standards of living, Blue Ruin situates these conversations directly within properties for sale.
Organized in collaboration with Bas Fisher Invitational and Weichert Realtors. Supported by The Knights Foundation, The Cultural Affairs Program of the Department of Tourism, Culture & Economic Development and Nordisk Kulturfond.
