6th March 2012 - 'Restless' - Teresa Margolles

EXHIBITIONS

Restless - Adelaide International 2012, Curator Victoria Lynn

The latest Adelaide International is titled Restless, which is an exhibition of 18 artists from all around the world and features five new works to premiere in Adelaide. It is presented in collaboration with four public galleries being The Ann & Gordon Samstaug Museum of Art, The Australian Experimental Art Foundation, The Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia and Flinders University City Gallery.

This exhibition explores the restlessness of our times. The works within this exhibition convey an ongoing transition from one condition to another, they raise many issues and ask a question, but do not necessarily answer it. The artists seek to explore physical force fields, threshold experiences and raise awareness around complex cultural sites. There is the sensation of being propelled in-between the spaces that exist amongst the boundaries of "heavens" and "hells" in our contemporary era.

ARTISTS

Francis Alÿs (BEL/MEX)

N.S. Harsha (IND)

Chosil Kil (STH KOR/UK)

Annika Larsson (SWE)/

Augustin Maurs (FRA)

Teresa Margolles (MEX)

Rabih Mroué (LEB)

Saskia Olde Wolbers (NED/UK)

Postcommodity (USA)

Lisa Reihana (NZ)

Anri Sala (ALB/GER)

Socratis Socratous (CYP)

Nancy Spero (USA)

Danae Stratou (GRE)

Jinoos Taghizadeh (IRAN)

The Australian Experimental Art Foundation - Teresa Margolles 127 cuerpos / 127 bodies 2006

Upon entering the gallery one may even have initially questioned if there was infact an exhibition present, but as you look further there is a what appears to be an inconspicuous fine thread stretched from one end of the exhibition space to the other. Margolles’ works often appear to be minimalist in their form and as a result seem innocuous, harmless and innocent, but are actually highly charged and emotional, fraught with disturbing symbolism that evokes a powerful response. The work has been created by merging 127 pieces of cloth that have been soaked and stained by refuse such as dirt, blood and other bodily fluids that remain from those who have suffered violent deaths associated with the Mexican drug war. Ironically the gallery space itself seems to embody the clinical atmosphere of a morgue, while the manner in which the fabric has been strung from one end of the gallery to the other seems to operate as a barrier for the taboo subject of violent death. Sadly the space serves to reinforce the anonymity of the victims who are often disposed of without ceremony, although Margolles works seem to act as an archival system for the victims and tender an historical memorial. It was only after speaking with the gallery attendant and reading the artist statement that I discovered how dramatic and deeply emotional the truth of this poignant body of work and the importance of such devastating realism in the choice of material. A moving exhibition that is definitely worth attending.