Flash Art jan-febr. 2007

Almost two years after the last Special Focus China, Flash Art uses the Shanghai Biennial as a springboard to newly report on the Chinese art scene and its artists, galleries and not-for-profit spaces with a new FOCUS CHINA. Andrea Bellini comments on the Shanghai Biennial that opened in early September and, along with Giancarlo Politi, does “China Planet” a round up of interviews with some of the key figures in contemporary Chinese art. September was a dense moment for Asian biennials indeed: reviews of the Singapore and Gwangju biennials by Sonia Campagnola, and of the Taipei Biennial by Susan Kendzulak in the Spotlight section, provide complementary points of view on ‘Asian fever.’ This issue’s covers are dedicated to two US-based artists: Mark Grotjahn and Seth Price. Maurizio Cattelan supplied Seth Price with unexplained quotes that operate as parameters for a peculiar series of reflections on international politics. Mark Grotjahn, on the other hand, gave a rare interview when he answered questions by Jan Tumlir about the origins of his work, its points of reference and its significance. “New Tendency” is a feature written by Getulio Alviani, one of the protagonists of this ‘70s art movement that generated a variety of declinations in names and smaller movements, from Kinetic to Optical art. Alviani, an Italian artist and theoretician, brings to light this fascinating fragment of art history. This issue also provides insights into the work of Danish artist John Kørner, whose paintings are examined in a feature by Angela Rosenberg, and Polish artist Robert Kusmirowski, in a feature by Katerina Gregos that points out the role of 20th century history in his complex installations. This issue’s Reprint is devoted to Gordon Matta-Clark. In this feature article Ted Castle considered the many diverse aspects of Matta-Clark’s ‘social’ work and personality. The reprint of this essay is in the occasion of the comprehensive retrospective that the Whitney Museum is dedicating to him. In the regular column “New York Tales,” Andrea Bellini proposes a round up of some of the most exciting shows recently opened in New York. The Collecting column features a conversation with Jason Rubell, who explains his and his family’s engagement in collecting and the role of their private foundation in Miami. The January-February issue also includes a report on the 27th Bienal de São Paulo, provided by Rodrigo Moura, and a review of Sevilla’s BIACS2 by Joaquín Barriendos. Ouverture is dedicated to Huma Bhabha and Global Art reflects upon a work by Pietro Roccasalva, recently presented in Turin, Italy. Group shows reviews include: Liverpool Biennial 2006; Skier at the Bottom of a Well, Colección Jumex, Mexico City; 2006 Momentum: Nordic Festival of Contemporary Art, Moss, Norway; SCAPE: Don’t Misbehave! Christchurch, New Zealand. Solo show reviews include: Raha Raissnia, Stefan Brüggemann, Tierney Gearon, Angela Strassheim, Edgar Arceneaux, Charles Gute, Jonathon Keats, Christoph Büchel, John Stezaker, Giuseppe Gabellone, Julian Rosefeldt, Helen Maurer, Hildur Bjarnadóttir, Daniel Dewar & Grégory Gicquel, Eugénie Goldschmeding, Karla Black, Kristina Girke, Allan McCollum, Mungo Thomson, Luca Vitone, Maja Bajevic, Jason Rhoades, Leda Papaconstantinou, Mark Raidpere, Anthony Goicolea, Geoffery Farmer, Tom Nicholson.