Spotted | This Week: Big Feet, Time Lapse Clay and Pondering Infinity

For an exhibition titled Words aren’t the Thing (Vilnius, Lithuania, November 13 — January 6, 2016) there seems to be a lot to say about Daniel Dewar & Grégory Gicquel’s time lapse sculpture, Ram. The work finds a way of existing as a site-specific ephemeral piece as well as a static sculpture. When viewed online as a gif Ram continues to evade any typical categorizations. That may be exactly what the artists intend to do, opting for a nonverbal experience whether it be sculptural, ephemeral, or a digital time lapse. The exhibition took place at the Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius.

Urs Fischer’s Big Foot retains the essence of a basic studio material. Clay, one of the most common materials among others such as wood and plaster, seems to always be in stock. If not the final product, clay finds its way into many mold making processes, as well as clumsy supports and mock ups. In fact Big Foot was originally made in clay then cast in bronze and finished with a faux clay surface. It appears abandoned, like the artist had a moment of indecision, not sure whether to finish the piece or shove it into the corner and forget about it.

Vincent de Rijk’s practice is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He works individually as well as with a team producing a wide range of art, design, and architectural products. Although his field of work varies, a sleek, minimal aesthetic is constant. Here, Rijk hones in on formalities to create a visually compelling display of vessels. Scale and arrangement are tinkered with to give a sense of depth and movement.

Pola Clapés has you covered if you’re looking to get the most out of your modest studio balcony. Based in Barcelona, Pola was inspired by the “railing language” used throughout city balconies and searched for a design to compliment it. The Sigh collection employs simple but practical design, allowing you to hang planters, laundry, and mount shelving platforms. Metal rods are bent into various shapes utilizing the same hook method for each product.

 

Popel Coumou translates familiar still life imagery into an unlikely material. Traditional still life objects are recreated in wax to recall tactile memory. It’s easy to imagine the slick ceramic surface of a teapot, or the flakiness of an onion peel. These memories of touch are replaced by the dense and tacky qualities of wax. Coumou, born in the Netherlands, has shown extensively throughout Europe as well as Tokyo, New York, and Seoul.

Brooklyn designer Sharan Elran pays tribute pays tribute to the British mathematician Roger Penrose by employing his geometric rule to three-dimensional wall tiles in Penroscape. A single rule informs a pattern that continually morphs, allowing for an infinite number of possible arrangements. Elran considers it “a meditation on infinity and the transcendental.” Be sure to read CFile’s earlier write up about Elran, who approached infinity with a project involving vases.