How is artistic identity established and propagated in the art world? This
question has been the main focus of interest for Dave Muller, whose watercolor
drawings resembling posters for exhibitions have become well known in recent
years. Whilst the texts (names, venues, dates, etc.) are accurately reproduced
in the gallery’s original typeface, the imagery is entirely Muller’s
own conception.
"I try to render a portrait, not of the artist, but rather of my take
on an artist’s practice. Drawings about the Jackson Pollock retrospective
playfully spoof the mythology that surrounds the artist. Drawings I’ve
created about Michael Asher or Andre Cadere stem from my enthusiasm for their
work. As far as overt critique is concerned, I’ve never been interested
in the attacking position. I feel if you are going to criticize, you should
offer an alternative. These drawings offer my alternative readings of existing
situations and work."
The impulse for these drawings originated from and is reflected in Muller’s
parallel activity: the organizational and promotional work for his celebrated
nomadic artist-run project space, Three Day Weekend. TDW is an event in itself
and a commentary on events, a diagram of the social space of art. The point
of Muller’s enterprise is the conversation between seemingly disparate
activities and their chaotic fusion in one large multi-authored body of work,
functioning in the social situation.
In his first solo exhibition at Murray Guy, Dave Muller will apply his aforementioned
interests to a larger field, presenting a multi-panelled panorama of night
sky. Here one finds the intertwining of the micro and macro. For a brief moment
outer space and inner space (theory), both of which can never truly be occupied,
are presented for contemplation. Treading the line been concept and actuality,
the visible and the immeasurable, Muller encourages conversation on the topics
of art, representation and assumption.
For the week 12th - 16th December 2000, Spatial will be rotated 180 degrees
along its central longitudinal axis to become Spatial Inversion. Please join
us Friday 15th December 6-8pm when Dave Muller will project short films by
Morgan Fisher, Dave Muller, David Hughes and Gary Webb on to Spatial Inversion.
Dave Muller lives and works in Los Angeles. He is currently exhibiting in
London at The Approach gallery from 13th October until 12th November.
For further information, please call Margaret Murray or Janice Guy at 212-463
7372. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am - 6pm.
