JONATHAN MONK // 30th September 2011

Posted by sweetsweetzerland on September 30, 2011 · Comments Off on JONATHAN MONK // 30th September 2011

Used Car (Toyota Corrolla 1.3 Terra 50 1998, DKK 41.000) (2011)
Dark pink neon lettering
Installation size: 32,5 x 38 x 5 cm
Unique

The concept of Jonathan Monk’s works is to consistently recast or extend conceptual art’s emblematic strategies over object making, dematerialization of the art object, and serialization. Thus, the artist challenges the notions of originality and authorship still present in art, and suggests to rethink the traditional role of the artist and the creative process in general.

At Galleri Nicolai Wallner, his main sculpture – Used Cars – consists of a series of neons and inhabits one of the exhibition rooms. The price and title of these different Used Cars haven been attributed according various old cars being sold in the local newspaper. Thus, the artist reflects his visitors notions on art, its status, appearance and market value by contrasting the possibility of either acquiring a car or an art piece, and choosing between practical needs or aesthetic fulfillment.

In another room of his exhibition, Monk employs similarly the idea of the handed down object and presents two pairs of grandfather clocks beating in and out of synch. The humanlike shapes of the clocks suggest two people eyeing each other, the sound of the clock poetically addressing childhood memories of visiting grandparents, coupled with a classic feeling of Memento mori.

Inspired by the thoughts of UK artist John Latham (1921-2006), a number of circular One Minute paintings underline further the idea of time. John Latham searched his all life long a theory that could contain the different biological and psychological aspects of life. He finally found it in the idea of flat time that he visualized by a single burst of spray paint.

on view through 15 October 2011
Galleri Nicolai Wallner
Ny Carlsberg Vej 68, OG
1760 Copenhagen
www.nicolaiwallner.com

Used Car (VW Golf III 1.8 Rolling Stone 1995, DKK 30.000) (2011)
Dark blue neon lettering
Installation size: 32,5 x 38 x 5 cm
Unique

Used Car (Fiat 500 L 1967, DKK 69.000) (2011)
Turquoise neon lettering
Installation size: 32,5 x 38 x 5 cm
Unique

Used Car (Mercedes C180 1993, DKK 87.000) (2011)
Green neon lettering
Installation size: 32,5 x 38 x 5 cm
Unique

The World in Handkerchiefs (2011)
Textile
Approx. 132,5 x 177 cm
Unique

The World in Workwear (2011)
Textile
Approx. 156 x 197,5 cm
Unique
The Odd Couple (Bornholm version) (2011)
Grandfather clock facing grandmother clock
Installation size: 210,5 x 58,5 x 85,5 cm
Grandfather clock: 210,5 x 58,5 x 21,5 cm
Grandmother clock: 197,5 x 57,5 x 23 cm
Unique

The Odd Couple (Celtic version) (2011)
Grandfather clock facing grandmother clock
Installation size: 208,5 x 62,2 x 80,5 cm
Grandfather clock: 200 x 47,5 x 22,5 cm
Grandmother clock: 208,5 x 62,2 x 20,7 cm
Unique