ob-iectum sub-iectum at Tobias Naehring

Artists: Connor McNicholas, Ian Law, Jens Einhorn, Lindsay Lawson, Strauss Bourque-LaFrance, Tomas Downes

Exhibition title: ob-iectum sub-iectum

Curated by: Domenico de Chirico

Venue: Tobias Naehring, Leipzig, Germany

Date: April 22 – June 18, 2016

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Tobias Naehring, Leipzig

Galerie Tobias Naehring is proud to present ‘ob-iectum sub-iectum’, a group exhibition curated by Domenico de Chirico, featuring works by Connor McNicholas, Ian Law, Jens Einhorn, Lindsay Lawson, Strauss Bourque-LaFrance, Tomas Downes.

In Western philosophy, during the so-called ‘scholastic period’ —also known as the Christian Medieval school of thought— the notion of object was first introduced to indicate the content of an intellectual or perceptive act – out of reality as a whole — and considered as a separate entity in logical opposition to the notion of subject. On the other hand, the latter’s meaning conjures a notion of immutable essential nature—a well determined and certain, made of substance “objectivity”.

The term’s etymology is a hint to how the current meaning of the object/subject opposites results from an overturning of the primitive meaning where the object was indeed the content of a rational action, while the subject was reality’s natural essence.

The Latins used the word “ob-iectum” —literally “thrown forward” or “placed in front”— to translate what the Greek philosopher Aristotle defined ἀντικείμενον (“anti-kèimenon”)—the opposite of ὐποκείμενον (“upo-kèimenon”)— which meant “what is placed underneath” the substrate or substance i.e. the essence of reality. The latter term upokèimenon has been translated into Latin as sub-iectum, from which the Italian “soggetto”.

In all currents of thoughts, throughout the turn of different eras up until contemporary lexicon and epistemology “subject and “object” have always made a pair: on the one hand, there is someone who thinks; on the other, necessarily, something which is thought. The exhibition puts these two pivotal elements in relation to each other. They are both invested with issues regarding the annexing and metamorphosis of everything that is real; and via one artistic identity and an intuitive elaboration process, there originates a single composite entity. The object turns into subject—and vice versa.

Connor McNicholas, born in 1990, lives in New York. Super Dakota, Brussels, Belgium (solo show, 2016 upcoming), Berthold Pott, Cologne, Germany (group show, 2016), Annarumma, Naples, Italy (group show, 2016), Andersen´s, Copenhagen, Denmark (group show, 2015).

Ian Law (b.1984, UK) lives and works in London. Recent solo exhibitions include You’re Adjusting, Rodeo, London (2015); Ian Law, Laura Bartlett Gallery, London (2014); New Works, VI, VII, Oslo; Make Sure, Rodeo, Istanbul (both 2012). He curated Out of the living, a group exhibition at Supplement Gallery, London (2015) and developed Out of the living, out of the office an event held at the Chisenhale Gallery, London (2015). Recent group exhibitions include Things That Tumble Twice, Tenderpixel, London (2015); Episode 2: Corridors, OSLO 10, Basel (both 2015); Painful Zombies Quickly Watch a Jinxed Graveyard, Cripta747, Turin (2014).

Jens Einhorn, b. 1980, lives and works in Berlin. Recent solo shows include Duve Berlin; New Contemporaries, Art Cologne; Luce Gallery, Turin; Bruch&Dallas, Cologne. His works has been included in exhibitions at Pinakothek der Moderne, München; Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin; Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples; Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig; David Achenbach Projects, Wuppertal; Cosar HMT, Düsseldorf; Annarumma Gallery, Naples, among others. After his study at HGB Leipzig, with Prof. Astrid Klein, he received his Master at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, with Prof. Tal R.

Born in the United States and living in Berlin, Lindsay Lawson received her BFA in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University, her MFA in New Genres from UCLA, and attended the Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main. Her work spans variety of media including video, film, sculpture, performance, photography, and a specific brand of contractual agreement she calls Arrangements. Her practice deals with issues of presence and objecthood in virtual and physical spaces. Numerous recent projects investigate states of infatuation with virtual personas and both virtual and physical objects. Her first feature-length film, The Smiling Rock was shot in Berlin and is currently in post-production during residencies at Trinity Square Video in Toronto as a guest of the Goethe Institut as well as at 1646 in The Hague. Lawson’s most recent solo exhibition titled The Inner Lives of Objects featured 23 vase and panel sculptures filled with various everyday objects. Other recent exhibitions include Home Work at Open Forum, Berlin; January Blues at Frutta Gallery, Rome; A Perfect Lie at Jeanroch Dard, Brussels; Rocks, Stones, and Dust at Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto. Upcoming exhibitions include Bloody Life organized by Supportico Lopez at Herald St, London, and a solo exhibition at 1646, The Hague. Lawson is represented by Gillmeier Rech Gallery in Berlin.

Strauss Bourque-LaFrance, b. 1983, lives and works in New York. Recent solo shows include Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York; T293, Rome, Italy; KANSAS, New York; Courtney Blades, Chicago; Bodega, Philadelphia/New York. His work has been included in exhibitions at ICA Philadelphia, SculptureCenter, New York; Contemporary Austin Jones Center, Texas; Abrons Art Center, New York; Johannes Vogt Gallery, New York; Clifford Gallery, Colgate University, New York; and White Flag Projects, St. Louis, among others. Strauss has been in residence at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and Movement Research. He has been a guest lecturer at Swiss Institute and Hampshire College. He received his BFA from Hampshire College, Amherst, MA and his MFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA.

Tomas Downes, born 1986, UK, lives and works in Copenhagen and London. Recent solo and two person shows include Four Boxes, Krabbesholm, Denmark; David Dale, Glasgow; Limoncello, London; Peles Empire, London. His work has been included in group exhibitions at Super Dakota, Brussels; The Moving Museum, London; Kinman Gallery, London; V22, London; Brand New Gallery, Milan; Chez Valentin, Paris, among others. Residencies include Land Art Road Trip, USA, and Krabbesholm Højskole, Denmark. Tomas Downes gained his BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design, London (2008) and his MA in Fine Art from The Royal Academy Schools, London (2011).