Imaginary Beings

Dates

December 2, 1995 - January 27, 1996

Curators

Jeanette Ingberman and Papo Colo

Artists

Ida Applebroog
Meghan Boody
Louise Bourgeois
Nina Bovasso
David Henry Brown Jr.
Antonina Canal
Nicola Constantino
Scott Cunningham
Dame Darcy
Sue deBeer
Nicole Eisenmann
Judy Fox
C. Garcia Martinez
Steven Gontarski
Elliott Green
Kristin M. Hartmann
Ben Katchor
Kaz
Jerry Kearns
Larry Krone
Krystine Kryttre
Peter Kuper
Carol Lay
Alfredo Martinez
Dominic McGill
Shirin Neshat
Laura Newman
Elizabeth Olbert
Tom Otterness
Roxy Paine
Joyce Pensato
E. Pierre Louis
Jörg Rode
Jonathon Rosen
Rudy Royval
Christy Rupp
Alison Saar
Lucas Samaras
Keith Sanborn
David Sandlin
David C. Scher
Arlene Shechet
Kate Shepherd
Cindy Sherman
Amy Sillman
Allison Smith
Kiki Smith
Rachel Stevens
Javier Tellez
Miguel Trelles
Fred Tomaselli
Connie Walsh
S. Clay Wilson
Angela Wyman

Exhibition

   Each civilization has its myths. These myths embody imaginary figures -- the dragon, the minataur, the golem, to the super-heroes of commercial culture. Imaginary Beings concerns both the interaction of fantasy and reality, and the construction or deconstruction of figures existing within the artists' imagination. Imaginary Beings exemplify heroes and villains, saviors and demons. They are products of the human condition and our theatrical imagination. Imaginary Beings represent our joys and fears. There is a tradition of imaginary beings within the history of art: from Brueghel to Goya, from the folkloric to the conceptual, from storytelling to theater, from poetry to filmmaking.

   The inspiration for Imaginary Beings derives from Jorge Luis Borges' "The Book of Imaginary Beings," a poetic investigation into the creatures, monsters and figures embodied in ancient and modern lore. First published as "El libro de los seres imaginarios" in 1967, Borges' book reflects a cultural fascination and an enduring need for the imaginary figure. The artists selected represent different generations and visual approaches to the ideas expressed by Borges. The exhibition forms a dialogue -- from the drawings of Louise Bourgeois, to the photographs of Lucas Samaras and Cindy Sherman, to the comic art of S. Clay Wilson and Jonathon Rosen, and finally to a new generation of artists -- with each artist interacting and shaping a contemporary view on this ancient practice.

Theater

   A combination of poetry, prose, and acting, in a collaborative exploration of life and love, the body and spirit, in the reflection of a mirror. Conceived by Papo Colo.

Exhibit Archive | 95-96 Calender