Naomi Fisher "The Brave Keep Undefiled A Wisdom Of Their Own"
Koenig & Clinton
This event has ended.
In “The Brave Keep Undefiled Wisdom of Their Own“ Naomi Fisher strives to explore the reciprocal relationship between the force of nature and its tendency towards chaos as it stands in opposition to the order and structure of civilization and culture. It is an investigation through movement, landscape costume and adornment.
Figuring most significantly in this new series of photographs, videos and drawings, are the women depicted in the images. Some of these women have been photographed by the artist for over a decade, and are all trained dancers and performers whose personal visions parallel those of Ms. Fisher’s. Other intrinsic elements of inspiration for the exhibition came from the location (Oleta State Park), and a chance happening of what can only be described as the “Garage Sale of a Lifetime” where the artist stumbled upon the sale of the contents of an unpaid storage unit in Miami. There, Fisher amassed 3 garbage bags full of clothes that ended up containing vintage Versace.
“Camp Primitivo” was the name which was given to Fisher’s “bubble world,” and leopard print was their uniform. Oleta State Park, is on an island in Biscayne Bay between North Miami Beach and the City of Miami. Truly hidden in plain site, the park has miles of mangroves, forests and beaches nestled between metropolis and ocean. Life there was basic, food, beach, insect repellent, sleep, cook dinner over a campfire, drink, dance, thunderstorm, scream, repeat. The resulting images convey an atmosphere of spontaneous expression tinged with just a bit of mystery. The women, clad in their leopard-print and sequined outfits, exude an impulsive and unguarded playfulness, while at the same time leaving the viewer with the feeling that they might never really know the whole story.
Growing up in Miami and traveling abroad while her botanist father collected and studied tropical plants has given Ms. Fisher a unique perspective to recontextualize the modernist fascination with the tropics and the “wild” women for whom the jungle is their natural habitat. The images in this exhibition are a culmination of a project where the artist invited four women to camp with her and shoot for 9 days straight. The intimacy is apparent in the images. For the duration of the project each performer was able to tap into a reservoir of darkness and emotion which was effortlessly communicated with humor and abandon. Likewise, the artist’s direction became an intuitive, and organic process. This seamless reciprocal gesture could only be the result of years of familiarity and collaboration.
Naomi Fisher is an artist born and raised in Miami.
[Image: Naomi Fisher "Endlessly On Demand" (2009) c-print, edition of 3, 30 x 36.5 in.]
Media
Schedule
from September 18, 2009 to October 24, 2009
Opening Reception on 2009-09-18 from 18:00 to 20:00