Exhibitions

Venue: Art Forum, Berlin

Dates: 29th September–4th October 2006

Preview: 29th September 2006

Notes: Solo Statement

Conceived specifically for Art Forum Berlin, Kate Davis’ installation ‘I want to function in the present time’ is an attempt to dissect and reassess the notion of persona. Borrowing its title from a quote by Kathe Kollwitz* ’ I want to function in the present time’ declares a desire to reclaim a past and rebuild a present for oneself. Acknowledging the public forum of an art fair, Davis presents a personal portrait which refers directly to the work of Carl Andre and Kathe Kollwitz**.

Previous works by Davis have focused on the inherent ‘potential’ (both literal and metaphorical, functional and symbolic) of certain objects. In this case, the subject/ object is the brick, and it is used (with great respect and in relation to Carl Andre’s floor based sculptures, particularly Equivalent VIII) to suggest and explore the building of a psychological structure. The mass produced brick is remade and cast by hand, each irregular form evidence of a human struggle to realise it. An Andre tile is similarly translated into an individual and imperfect representation of its recognisable form. This work is viewed alongside three self-portraits, delineated in the style of Kathe Kollwitz, whose graphic works drew attention to the plight of the common man in the early twentieth century. Thus an appropriation of Kollwitz’ expressive visual language informs and furthers an interpretation of a minimalist approach to sculpture whilst seeking to question if it is possible to build an alternative personal architecture?

A new bookwork ‘Bread’ is also an integral part of Davis’ Art Forum Berlin statement. Again, concentrating on the brick with reference to Andre’s work, ‘Bread’ examines the idea of a foundation at its most fundamental level. As a bookwork if offers an audience the opportunity to engage with the work in their own time and space.

Quote taken from period whilst Kollwitz was active as an artist in Berlin. * Previous works by Davis have increasingly paid homage and made visual reference to work by various twentieth century artists (including amongst others, MaxErnst, Lucian Freud, Meret Oppenheim, Umberto Boccioni, Kurt Schwitters, Robert Mapplethorpe, Hans Peter Feldmann). As quoted from Davis, ’ The question for me is how I can use my interpretation of those marks to say something today’.