Arco 2008: Expanded Box

Arco 2008: Arriving on the scene with a firm step and its own unique style, a programme focused on new technologies in the art discourse is making its ARCO debut, a specific section for video art. PANTALLA will be one of the sections into which the EXPANDED-BOX space—curated and revamped by Claudia Giannetti—is structured, and where video art will be in the spotlight. Three screens will continually project loops of the 12 art projects on show, divided into three thematic blocks: Action Spaces, Paradoxical Spaces, and Public and Private Spaces.

The first of these, Action Spaces, will show five projects, each 3 to 7 minutes long, devoted to performance pieces, or works in which action is the central theme.  These will include Juego de dormitorio (Bedroom Game, 2006-07), a video by the Argentine Eugenia Calvo (Rosario, Argentina, 1976) being shown at the new Buenos Aires gallery Arte x Arte; Conservation Piece I  (2004), by Sophie Whettnall (Brussels, 1973), who is represented by the Portugal’s Vera Cortês Art Agency; Grassing (2001), by the young artist Yung-Hsien,Chen, on the roster of one of Taiwan’s top media-art galleries, Grand Siécle; Beautifu, (2006), by Ene-Liis Semper (Estonia, 1969), from the Hamburg Art Agents Gallery; and Landscape for Fire by Anthony McCall (UK, 1964), presented by Thomas Zander,  a gallery from Cologne, Germany.

The second block, Paradoxical Spaces, screens pieces that reflect the abysses of human existence, and the alienation of contemporary society. This stance is exemplified by As the Oil Burns (2007), a 12-minute piece by the Kazakh artist Almagul Menlibeyava showing with the new Berlin space Galerie Davide Gallo; Wang Jianwei Bio (China, 1958) will be showing new work with Arco newcomer CHAMBERS FINE ART, from New York; Face to Face (2007), a 2-minute piece by Ana de Matos at another Arco debutant, Galería de Arte C5 Colección; and A Magnetic Space (2008), 14'33” long, by Pierre Coulibeuf (France, 1949), on the roster of Play Platform for Film & Video Berlin, also making its Arco premiere.

The third and last block, Public and Private Spaces, features pieces ranging from 5 to 17 minutes long that focus on artists’ personal experiences in different areas.  This screen’s programming comprises Move your Hands (2007) by Kamen Stoyanov (Bulgaria, 1977), who is showing at ARCO8 with the Austrian gallery DANA CHARKASI | plattform aktueller kunst; Un Mystique Determinado (A Certain Mystique) by Carles Congost (Spain, 1972), who will be at ARCO8 with another of the Spanish galleries in the programme, the Majorcan HORRACH MOYÀ; and Contagio (Contagion, 2005), by Tomás Ochoa (Ecuador, 1965), with the Madrid gallery TRIBECA, which is making its ARCO debut.

The programme Expanded-Box will also highlight the modality of multiple-format installations within its subsection STAND. This space will present audiovisual installations such as Run Routine (2007), by the video artist Lucas Bambozzi (Sao Paulo, 1965), showing with the Brazilian gallery BRITO CIMINO; El cazador (The Hunter, 2004), by Carlos Garaicoa, showing at the space shared by HABANA and ELBA BENITEZ; and Introduction to a Distant World by the Chilean Alfredo Jaar (Santiago de Chile, 1956), who will be at ARCO8 with the Madrid gallery OLIVA ARAUNA.