THE OBSERVER EFFECT

Opening: vrijdag 17 juli, 17-19 uur

Heropening: vrijdag 31 juli, 17-19 uur

In de wetenschap refereert het “Observer Effect” aan veranderingen die de handeling van observeren veroorzaakt bij een geobserveerd fenomeen. Vandaag de dag zijn we als mens onderhevig aan ontelbare dagelijkse observaties door organisaties op lokaal en wereldniveau, en worden onze sporen vastgelegd, geanalyseerd, en in sommige gevallen zelfs teruggekoppeld naar onszelf als suggesties vooruitlopend op onze verlangens. Het lijkt alsof deze suggesties op maat gemaakt en afgestemd zijn voor ons alleen, maar ze zijn in feite grotendeels gebaseerd op alle sporen verzameld in verborgen marktsegmenten waarin we zijn ondergebracht. Als wij de groep veranderen, verandert de groep mee met ons, en ondertussen fragmenteert de maatschappelijke werkelijkheid zich in voorgeselecteerde clusters. In hoeverre kunnen we onze ervaringen nog vertrouwen als onze eigen werkelijkheid ook kan veranderen? Deze tentoonstelling neemt dit soort zaken onder de loep – leer haar kennen terwijl zij ook u doorgrondt.

De tentoonstelling is een initiatief van Waalko Dingemans en Jason File en brengt zeven recent afgestudeerde kunstenaars bijeen afkomstig van Chelsea College of Arts, London en van de KABK, Den Haag.

Ook u kunt deelgenoot worden van The Observer Effect op de opening op vrijdag 17 juli èn aansluitend de volgende fase ervaren op de speciale re-opening op vrijdag 31 juli 2015.

Weest welkom!

Marie Jeanne de Rooij, directeur GEMAK

Participating Artists:

Zehra Arslan (Germany 1985, lives/works London) studied Chelsea College of Arts, London (BA Fine Art 2013) and Royal College of Art, London (MFA Painting 2015). Zehra’s work at GEMAK consists of digital prints depicting drawings for sculptural pieces, as well as a set of instructions for the viewer. Organised around the idea of her construction plans, the piece reflects on sculpture as a medium, its economic, linguistic and institutional relations. Recent exhibitions include: Whitechapel Gallery, London; RCA Degree Show, London; De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea (all 2015). She is currently preparing her first solo show in New York.

Lewis Davidson (UK 1990, lives/works London) studied Chelsea College of Arts, London (BA Fine Art 2013). Lewis’s work is on permanent display in Paul Smith’s Beak Street and Floral Street branches, London. Recent exhibitions include London/Vienna Calling 2013-2014, The Open West 2014 and Art@Tell 2/2014, Switzerland. Chosen to be part of a selected body from the Art@Tell editions, his work is currently scheduled to tour to the University of Dusseldorf, Germany.

Waalko Dingemans (NL 1973, lives/works The Hague), studied Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague (BA Fine Arts 2013). The recurrent theme in Waalko’s work, spanning drawing, photography and installation, is the personal relation of the individual to his surroundings. By exploring the boundary between conscious and subconscious, triggering memories or creating an intimate relationship, the viewer is encouraged to experience the work autonomously instead of following general opinion. Recent exhibitions include: Arttrium (NL 2014) and Inside Zone (RO 2015).

 Jason File (USA 1976, lives/works The Hague) studied Chelsea College of Arts, London (BA Fine Art 2013) and Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague (BA Fine Arts 2013). Jason is an artist, university lecturer in fine art at the KABK, and war crimes prosecutor whose multimedia practice explores institutional structures and materials.  He is the recipient of the Mead Fellowship and the Zabludowicz Collection Future Map Prize (London, 2014). Recent exhibitions include: The Ryder Projects, London (solo); Stroom, The Hague (two-person); Copperfield, London (all 2015); Grand Rapids Art Museum, USA; International Print Biennale, UK (all 2014).

Naomi Fitzsimmons (UK 1989, lives/works London) studied Chelsea College of Arts, London (BA Fine Art 2013).  Naomi’s practice explores the role of the audience and of staging in the live event.  She is the recipient of the Chelsea Acme Studio Award 2013/2014. Her previous education includes a year’s study at the Universität der Künste, Berlin (2012) and a foundation diploma from Central Saint Martins, London (2009). Recent exhibitions include: Bearspace, London (solo); Atelierhaus der Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Vienna (all 2014); Picture This Gallery, Bristol; Camden Arts Centre, London (all 2012).

Libby Ireland (UK, 1990, lives/works London), studied Chelsea College of Arts, London (BA Fine Art 2013). Libby’s work explores the physical experience of architecture, looking at the way individuals as physical entities move about spaces in order to investigate the relationship between body, space and artwork. By altering existing spaces or structures, her work plays on the line between art and real life in order to disrupt movement and break habits in architectural environments. She is the recipient of the Chelsea Alumni Award and the GlogauAIR Chelsea Student Award (2013). Recent exhibitions include: SPACE Studios, London; GlogauAIR, Berlin (all 2014).

Marijn Ottenhof (NL 1985, lives/works The Hague), studied Royal Academy of Art (KABK) (BA Fine Arts 2014). Marijn works in video, photography and installation; themes include the disappearing boundaries between the real and the surreal, the rules of group behaviour and the loss of function of objects and situations. Through seemingly pointless actions and functionless products, surreal settings and social happenings, she creates a parallel world of loneliness, magic and games without rules. She is the recipient of a Mondriaan Fonds Vrije beurs praktijkverdieping (2015) and the KABK Fine Arts Department Award (2014). Recent exhibitions include: Art Rotterdam Intersections, Nieuwe Vide (solo) (2015); KiK, Kolderveen (2014).