“The Story of Elfranko Wessels” Exhibition

Studio 10

poster for “The Story of Elfranko Wessels” Exhibition

This event has ended.

“The Story of Elfranko Wessels” is a multi-channel video installation. Its primary 16-minute video depicts a Brooklyn artist-couple’s failure to adopt a global worldview and practice. Literally ensconced within the selfreferential tradition represented by their white-walled live/work loft, they invite a South African émigré, Elfranko Wessels, in for an interview. But Elfranko’s “otherness” disappoints; he is a white Afrikaaner with a slight stammer. Elfranko manages to tell a meandering story of escape from his confining, racist family and final arrival to the US, but by way of the occupying artist-couple — who have substituted their own singing voices for his plain speech. The artists’ attempts at portraying another subjectivity become increasingly outlandish and frenzied, always returning to their own sound and image. Finally, in what seems like a benign surrender on the part of everyone, Elfranko asks if he may stop speaking and the artists walk off into the sunset. The video projection is divided into a grid by means of a unique Mirror Projector. The individual pieces of the video image move independently of one another to form new patterns; their specific movement choreographed through the use of algorithm. The effects of this kinetic sculpture emotionally intensify the dreamlike, operatic experience of the video. Another element of the installation is a large webcam projection showing the artists’ Bushwick live/work loft in real time. The loft functions as a fourth character in the video as the performers engage in “serious play” within its confines. A room-sized semi-transparent scrim representing the artists’ living-room is hung in front of the actual location, creating a bizarre, vibrating double-space. The artists’ loft and doubling scrim — as seen in the gallery’s webcam projection — is located nearby and may be visited during the opening hours of the gallery for the run of this exhibition.

Media

Schedule

from April 11, 2014 to May 04, 2014

Opening Reception on 2014-04-11 from 19:00 to 21:00

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