Carter Mull: The Princess is Caged in the ©
Tobias Kaspar: The Air on the Way to the Oyster
26 April–13 July 2014
Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen
Davidstrasse 40
9000 St. Gallen
Switzerland
The strict codes of the fashion and consumer world and their communication through images are central themes of the two exhibitions by Tobias Kaspar (b. 1984 in Basel, lives in Rome) and Carter Mull (b. 1977 in Atlanta, lives in Los Angeles). At Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, the artists examine constructions of identity from different positions. Their images, films and installations enter a dialogue both spatially and in terms of content. With rearranged symbols from fashion and pop culture they reveal social mechanisms and create their own pictorial worlds. The juxtaposition of their different strategies shows that in a reality flooded with images and goods the dividing lines between art and consumption and individuality and community are permeable.
Tobias Kaspar demonstrates the interaction between encoding and decoding with the film Black Noire of his show The Air on the Way to the Oyster. The new film, produced by the Kunst Halle, shows impressions from a luxury clothes shop in Rome. Kaspar captures the brand articles at an interface: the clothes and accessories are still free from the personal charge of their wearers, although the label influences the significance. In addition, the cool aesthetics of the close-ups create an own pictorial language. Kaspar makes it clear that the presentation and representation of clothes and architecture lie close together. The artist is also intervening at the Kunst Halle with an installation: a carpet becomes a stylized catwalk which connects the spaces and serves as an abstracted plinth for the presentation of photographic works.
In contrast to Kaspar’s sober aesthetics, in The Princess is Caged in the © Carter Mull confronts visitors with a dense installation made up of paintings, light sculptures, a video and thousands of loose foils which inundate the floor. Gaudy colours, logos, typography and film stills from a online shop for hipsters characterize the detailed pictorial material. With this, Mull questions the status and production of goods and consequently art. In the process various social systems and forms of expression and dissemination conflate—analogously to the networked postmodern world. Mull’s main interest is the relationship of the individual to community. In particular he focuses on the way in which identities are constructed with brands and other cultural symbols.
Biographical information:
Carter Mull (b. 1977 in Atlanta, US) studied at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles (2000–2006) and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, US. Today he lives in Los Angeles and New York. Solo exhibitions (selection): Marc Foxx, Los Angeles (2013); T&S, New York (2011); and Rivington Arms, New York (2007). Group exhibitions (selection): Jessica Silvermann Gallery, San Francisco; United Artists Limited, Marfa, Texas, US; Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia (2013); Daegu Biennale, Seoul, Korea; Venice Beach Biennale, Venice, California, US; Museum of Modern Art, New York (2012); The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US (2011); and Gagosian Gallery, New York (2008).
Tobias Kaspar (b. 1984 in Basel, Switzerland) studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg (2005–2011) and the Hochschule für Bildende Künste (Staedelschule) in Frankfurt. Today he lives in Rome. Solo exhibitions (selection): Silberkuppe, Berlin (2013); Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich (2012); Alex Zachary Gallery, New York (2011); and Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg (2007). Group exhibitions (selection): CAFA Art Museum, Bejing (2014); Artists Space, New York (2013); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2012); Kunsthalle Zürich; Kunsthalle Basel; Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria (2011).
High-resolution images can be found here. For further questions please contact Giovanni Carmine or Maren Brauner.
The Air on the Way to the Oyster is supported by Erna and Curt Burgauer Stiftung and by Abteilung Kultur Basel-Stadt. Special thanks to Istituto Svizzero di Roma.
The Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen is supported by Stadt St.Gallen, Kulturförderung Kanton St.Gallen, Swisslos, Migros-Kulturprozent, Martel AG. The educational program is made possible by Raiffeisen and Kulturförderung Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
