Art Fag City at ArtReview: Art Basel Miami Beach: Claire Fontaine and Jordan Wolfson on the Beach

by Art Fag City on December 5, 2008 · 6 comments Events

art-positions2.jpg

I’ve written a post about Art Positions at ArtReview.  The teaser below:

Easily clinching the title of Worst Art Fair Special Exhibition I’ve seen thus far, Art Basel’s emerging artist-focused Art Positions leaves viewers with almost nothing of consequence to discuss. Back in 2002, Art Positions helped the fair gain a reputation of supporting younger galleries and artists, but it has suffered from the recent competition from all the satellite fairs. Shipping containers on the beach serve as exhibition spaces as they have in previous years. In between them this year there’s a cheesy and dramatically illuminated futurific plastic architectural installation by Federico Diaz and E-Area.

Of the 20 exhibiting galleries, only two shows merit a nod: Wallspace’s giant stretched multicolored rubber band installation, which is merely mediocre. Claire Fontaine’s bleak blue horse Marco Cavallo and freedom texts at T293 Gallery require the most contemplation. ‘Is Freedom Therapeutic?’ reads red text scrawled on the wall. The question doesn’t mean much until you understand the horse sculpture references a One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest-style breakout by patients from a mental hospital. Another freedom text asks pertinently: ‘Is there any possible freedom from the market and its unreasonable rules?’ (See an interview with Claire Fontaine in ArtReview magazine here.)

To read the full text click here.

{ 6 comments }

Contemporary Art December 5, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Great article and I totally agree with your pick of Wolfson and Claire Fontaine. I’ve always liked Wolfson, but Fontaine in particular is growing on me. “She” is growing less wry and more earnest as a foil to Reena Spaulings’ mischief, rather than a partner in crime. Which, for me at least, is welcome.

Is that transcript of Wolfson’s text something you transcribed, or an official text? For example, he says “women” to refer to one of two actors? I’m really keen to get ahold of the official transcript, so if this is it, it will save me the trouble of contacting him.

Good work!

Contemporary Art December 5, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Great article and I totally agree with your pick of Wolfson and Claire Fontaine. I’ve always liked Wolfson, but Fontaine in particular is growing on me. “She” is growing less wry and more earnest as a foil to Reena Spaulings’ mischief, rather than a partner in crime. Which, for me at least, is welcome.

Is that transcript of Wolfson’s text something you transcribed, or an official text? For example, he says “women” to refer to one of two actors? I’m really keen to get ahold of the official transcript, so if this is it, it will save me the trouble of contacting him.

Good work!

Contemporary Art December 5, 2008 at 6:47 pm

Great article and I totally agree with your pick of Wolfson and Claire Fontaine. I’ve always liked Wolfson, but Fontaine in particular is growing on me. “She” is growing less wry and more earnest as a foil to Reena Spaulings’ mischief, rather than a partner in crime. Which, for me at least, is welcome.

Is that transcript of Wolfson’s text something you transcribed, or an official text? For example, he says “women” to refer to one of two actors? I’m really keen to get ahold of the official transcript, so if this is it, it will save me the trouble of contacting him.

Good work!

Art Fag City December 6, 2008 at 6:23 am

It’s a transcription from a recording I made of the performance. I think he read a few things wrong during the performance, but I just transcribed as is.

Art Fag City December 6, 2008 at 6:23 am

It’s a transcription from a recording I made of the performance. I think he read a few things wrong during the performance, but I just transcribed as is.

Art Fag City December 6, 2008 at 1:23 am

It’s a transcription from a recording I made of the performance. I think he read a few things wrong during the performance, but I just transcribed as is.

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