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Indepth Arts News:
"Keith Sonnier
"
1999-10-02 until 1999-11-28
Kunsthaus Bregenz
Bregenz, ,
AT Austria
The American artist Keith Sonnier (born 1941 in Mamou, Louisiana, lives in
New York) gained international recognition especially with his sculptures
and installations using colored neon lights. His most spectacular work in
Europe is the over one kilometer long Lichtweg connecting different
terminals at the Munich airport. Although neon and fluorescent light have
been an integral part of his artistic work for thirty years now, Sonnierīs work
distinguishes itself above all by means of the variety of materials used and
their formal as well as thematic complexity. Since the late sixties Sonnier
has contributed to the development of a completely new concept of
sculpture through the use of inexpensive materials until then unnoticed in
art, such as felt, fiberglass, lead, fat, latex, wire, neon, aluminum and glass.
In the series BA-O-BA, begun in 1969, still in progress and clearly
characterized by this postminimalist concept of New Sculpture, Sonnier
combines materials and motifs from foreign cultures with those of modern
Western industrial society. At the same time he actively involves both the
viewer and the surroundings in his works through the use of colored light in
combination with shiny, reNULLecting or transparent materials. The works thus
receive a progressive, open character.
Besides two works from the BA-O-BA series and three other sculptures,
this comprehensive solo exhibition will include an interactive video
installation, a complex spatial installation with fluorescent light, as well as
numerous computer printouts of publically commissioned works by Sonnier
of the last few years. In addition, a light installation in the glass facade of
the Kunsthaus is planned.
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