Mike Kelley (1954-2012). The Mobile Homestead in front of the abandoned Detroit Central Train Station, 2010. © Mike Kelley. Photograph by Corine Vermuelen
For this year’s biennial the Whitney Museum is presenting a round-up of the usual suspects, with works by Elaine Reichek, Richard Hawkins, Charles Atlas, peppered with some lesser known emerging artists, and homages to recently dead ones like George Kuchar and Mike Kelley.
The Whitney is also presenting a great array of film and videos, music, ongoing live performances, with films by George Kuchar, Thom Anderson, Wu Tsang, Kelly Reichardt, (Wendy and Lucy), and a specially commissioned film by Werner Herzog. The more interesting departure is a floor dedicated to performance artists, which promises to be at least more moving than the majority of static works on display.
A Georgia Sagri performance at the Whitney Biennial 2012
Of the performances scheduled to take place, is a four-week residency by Modern Dance Club – a dance troupe commissioned by British choreographer Michael Clark. Clark, who radically expanded the role of male dancers from being mere props for pirouetting ballerinas – to exploring gender-defying personas, has famously collaborated on costumes with Leigh Bowery, Vivienne Westwood, BodyMap, and Sarah Lucas. Clark’s W-H-O’S Z-O-O will be performed by both professionals and non-dancers.
Wu Tsang (b. 1982), Production still from WILDNESS, 2012 (in progress). High-definition video, color, sound. © Wu Tsang; courtesy the artist
Sam Lewitt (b. 1981), Untitled (material for Fluid Employment), 2012. Digital photograph, dimensions variable. © Sam Lewitt; courtesy the artist and Miguel Abreu Gallery
The Whitney Museum readying its floor space for performances.
Rendering of the Whitney Museum of American Art’s new building in downtown Manhattan, from the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Streets facing West towards 10th Avenue
In the near future, the Whitney is threatening to unleash its new downtown quarters at the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Streets, a space designed by Renzo Piano, which hopefully will inject fresh impulses into its curatorial choices.
Michael Clark: In Residence March 14 – April 8 – Performances March 29-April 8
2012 Whitney Biennial will be on view from March 1 to May 27, 2012
