2007  

“(N)o Man Is An Island”

Mühsamraum

A studio living space flipped

(N)o Man is an Island, The collaborative exhibition by Lauren Moffatt and Garth Gregory, fuses painting and sculpture into a large scale installation in a residential space in Berlin Friedrichshain. By means of an assembly of painted and drawn surfaces, the two-winged installation indexes questions surrounding contemporary painting practice and plays with the aesthetic of the contemporary painter‘s working environment.

(N)o Man is an Island, eine Gemeinschaftsausstellung von Lauren Moffatt und Garth Gregory, verbindet Malerei und Skulptur in einer grossen Installation in einer Wohnung in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Gemalte und gezeichnete Flaechen wurden in zwei separaten Komplexen ineinander gefuegt. Durch die Einbettung in den Arbeitsraum eines Malers werden Fragen ueber zeitgenoessische kuenstlerische Praxis aufgeworfen.

 Garth Gregory constructs a shack from painted motifs, offering a claustrophobic viewing cabin as opposed to the standard spacious and sterile white cube. Through a small window, a scene of domestic comfort can be observed. The construction forms a critical space where the visible yet inaccessible outer world is forced into direct parallel with his painted surfaces. The installation opens questions as to the relevance of display and the role surroundings play in the interpretation and significance of work.

This installation took place in my apartment in Berlin its purpose was to pose questions about the nature of display. The location played a large roll in this as my studio and living space became the stage. The cabin which I constructed in the entrance way to a room created an interesting scenario. Within the small cabin the walls and sealing were fully collaged with paintings and drawings creating a very claustrophobic environment. This was contrasted by a window also in the cabin through which the viewer could look into the remainder of my living room where “carrousel” (Jon Kroll & Jan Schieffer) was performing live music and two other friends played chess. The effect was interesting, generally speaking the viewer was initially drawn to the window completely ignoring the hundred or so images in the space between, then slowly after viewing the outside world they would begin to process the imagery within the cabin. What I think I managed to create here is an uncomfortable viewing environment that forced the viewer to asses the artists surroundings as an important aspect in the creation of their work. This was beautifully furthered by Lauren Moffats installation, which swung the studio floor onto the opposing wall to the shack spinning the viewer’s perception and making the viewer contemplate the artist’s environment as a work in its self.

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