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Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation

Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation Presents
Jump Cuts: Venezuelan Contemporary Art from the Colección Mercantil
On View June 1–July 15, 2007

The Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation, known as CIFO, and the Colección Mercantil present a major exhibition of cutting edge art by leading contemporary Venezuelan artists, on view at CIFO Art Space from June 1 through July 15 2007. Jump Cuts: Venezuelan Contemporary Art from the Colección Mercantil examines the work of 30 artists born between 1946 and 1972 whose work characterizes the rapid evolution and surprising diversity of contemporary art created in Venezuela and Latin America.

Featuring paintings, drawings, photography, assemblage, sculpture, video and installation work dating from 1990 to 2006, the exhibition offers new insights into the social, political and cultural issues – and the resulting creative output – that have shaped the eclectic international art scene in Venezuela. CIFO’s presentation of Jump Cuts marks only the second time that this exceptional art collection assembled by Venezuela’s Banco Mercantil will be seen in the United States. Previously on view at the Americas Society in New York in 2005, the exhibition is a rare opportunity for American audiences to view these works.

“The Colección Mercantil represents an important institutional effort to map the outstanding contemporary art production in Venezuela of the last three decades,” said CIFO founder and chair Ella Fontanals-Cisneros. “CIFO’s goal is to broaden global understanding of the work of artists who are making a significant impact in Latin America but are less familiar to U.S. audiences. This show gives Miami residents and visitors a chance to see a compelling body of work that will excite, provoke and no doubt expand their ideas about art from Latin America.”

Jump Cuts includes work by 30 artists: Alexánder Apóstol, Juan Araujo, Carla Arocha, Emilia Azcárate, Aziz+Cucher, Alessandro Balteo Yazbeck, Mariana Bunimov, Sigfredo Chacón, Eugenio Espinoza, José Gabriel Fernández, Magdalena Fernández, Héctor Fuenmayor, Alexander Gerdel, Jaime Gili, Alí González, José Antonio Hernández-Diez, Arturo Herrera, Juan Iribarren, Diana López, Luis Simón Molina-Pantin, Roberto Obregón, David Palacios, Alfredo Ramírez, Juan Carlos Rodríguez, Luis Romero, Javier Téllez, Meyer Vaisman, Sandra Vivas, Alfred Wenemoser and Julia Zurilla. The presentation at CIFO was organized by curators Jesús Fuenmayor, Tahía Rivero and Lorena González of the Colección Mercantil, and Cecilia Fajardo-Hill, chief curator of CIFO.

The exhibition takes its title from a cinematic editing technique practiced by Jean-Luc Goddard in which abrupt cuts from one shot to the next produce a sense of dislocation in the viewer. Just as “jump cuts” separate contexts and relationships in film, this exhibition explores art produced during a timeframe and cultural context that breaks from engrained historical narratives, and invites new ways of seeing and appreciating art from Venezuela and Latin America. “The artists in this exhibition brought a critical perspective to the local conditions in which they were working,” said Jesús Fuenmayor, principal curator of the exhibition. “Their art is therefore inextricably linked to and must be understood within the historic context that influenced their creation.”

Jump Cuts brings together work spanning a broad range of themes and artistic approaches – from the provocative political art of José Hernández-Diez and Sandra Vivas; to artists like Magdalena Fernández and Juan Irribarren who challenge notions of representation; to artists who approach art as experimentation, such as Davida Palacios, Sigfredo Chacón and Roberto Obregón. The exhibition is organized around four primary themes: the idealization of modernity; the synchronization of Venezuela’s development with modern development internationally; the relationship between social development and artistic development; and the ideals of social transformation.

“Mercantil’s diverse and daring collection demonstrates their commitment to fostering new artistic talent and a new image of Latin American art – goals which CIFO also seeks to accomplish through its exhibitions and programs,” said Cecilia Fajardo-Hill. “While extraordinarily diverse in their expression, the works in Jump Cuts explore universal themes that have powerful resonance not only in the context of events in Venezuela, but also in the context of an increasingly globalized world.”

About the Colección Mercantil
The Colección Mercantil is the corporate art division of Mercantil, Venezuela’s leading financial services provider and a dedicated corporate supporter of the arts. The collection comprises over 1,500 Venezuelan artworks from the early 18th century to the present day and represents the range of Venezuelan artists throughout modern history. In addition to the growth and stewardship of its collection, the curatorial department of the Colección Mercantil promotes the study of Venezuelan art and the documentation of Venezuelan cultural history through research, restoration, and publishing. Reconsidering the past and investing in the future, Colección Mercantil supports the dissemination and preservation of Venezuela’s cultural heritage for future generations.

Mercantil is an international financial services company with operations throughout the Americas and in Europe. Its main subsidiaries are: Banco Mercantil C.A., Seguros Mercantil and Merinvest C.A. in Venezuela; Commercebank N.A. in the United States, and Banco Mercantil (Schweiz) AG in Switzerland.

About CIFO
The Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO) is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 by Ella Fontanals-Cisneros and her family to support art and artists who are exploring new directions in contemporary art. CIFO fosters cultural understanding and educational exchange through three primary initiatives: Grants and Commissions Programs for emerging and mid-career visual artists from Latin America; an exhibitions program showcasing work by Latin American artists and art from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection in the state-of-the-art CIFO Art Space; and foundation-initiated support for other arts and culture projects.

Upcoming Exhibitions at CIFO
From September 6 to October 21, 2007, CIFO will present its 2007 Grants Program exhibition, a dynamic group show of works by ten emerging artists from Latin America who were awarded grants from CIFO in 2007. Participating artists are: Alberto Baraya (Colombia); Fredi Casco (Paraguay); Donna Conlon (Panama); Adriana García Galán (Colombia); Renata Lucas (Brazil); Luis Molina-Pantin (Venezuela); Ángel Poyón Calí (Guatemala); Cecilia Szalkowicz & Gastón Pérsico (Argentina); Emilio Valdés (Mexico); and Héctor Zamora (Mexico).

From December 5, 2007 to February 17, 2008, CIFO will present Fortunate Object: Selections from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection showcasing art that takes inspiration from seemingly ordinary, everyday objects. On view during the international art fair Art Basel Miami Beach, the exhibition will feature works by leading artists such as Ai Wei, Damian Hirst and Jose Antonio Hernández-Diez. Ella Fontanals-Cisneros began collecting contemporary art in the 1970s, and today her collection includes important and cutting-edge pieces by some of the leading artists of our time. Collection highlights include photography by Barbara Kruger, earth works and photography by Ana Mendieta, abstract painting by Juan Mele, and video installations by Bill Viola.

CIFO is located at 1018 North Miami Avenue. The galleries are open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. Public information is available online at http://www.cifo.org or by calling 305.455.3380.

# # #
Media in Miami /
Información en Espanol contact:
Maria Elena Useche, Communications Manager
305.455.3349; museche@efcholdings.com

National and international media contact:
Resnicow Schroeder Associates
Lily Mitchem, 212.671.5163; lily@resnicowschroeder.com

For more information go to: http://www.cifo.org

Auckland Art Gallery

Mystic Truths
30 June – 14 October 2007

Auckland Art Gallery New Gallery
cnr Wellesley and Lorne Streets
Auckland
New Zealand
Tel +64 9 307 7700
Fax +64 9 302 1096
info@aucklandartgallery.govt.nz
http://www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz

The exhibition Mystic Truths at Auckland Art Gallery explores the prevalence of mysticism in contemporary art, and its potential to shift the relationship of art to life. Within the exhibition experience, both artist and viewer are positioned in the uncertain middle-ground between belief and cynicism.

The artists draw upon mystic realities through re-performing historic spiritualism, activating contemporary superstition, recreating mystic tools and iconography and documenting belief in other worlds and speculative realities.

The title Mystic Truths extracts the oxymoron embedded in Bruce Nauman’s 1967 neon sign "the true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths". Nauman’s words declare a role for the artist that sits uneasily within contemporary art and life in the West – that mysticism is not only alive and real, but also necessary.

Curator Natasha Conland calls upon the catch-phrase ‘mind over matter’ to suggest the artists’ interest in the powers of the mind as a change-agent in the physical realm of art and exhibition. She uses the metaphor of ‘the curse’ as an alternative lens from which to view the relationship between concept and form. Freed from cynical or superstitious association, a curse is merely an idea. Add belief to this idea, and it has the power to affect change.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue and programme including talks, film screenings and events, with an opening weekend performance by UK artist Olivia Plender.

Artists: Mikala Dwyer (Australia); Omer Fast (Israel/USA); Laurent Grasso (France); Loris Gréaud (France); David Hatcher (NZ); Joachim Koester (Denmark); A.P. Komen/Karen Murphy (Netherlands/Ireland); Maria Loboda (Germany); Liz Maw (NZ); Annette Messager (France) Dane Mitchell (NZ); Bruce Nauman (USA) Olivia Plender (UK); Jennifer Tee (Netherlands); Mungo Thomson (USA); Barbara Visser (Netherlands) and Thomas Zipp (Germany).

Mystic Truths is generously supported by Creative New Zealand, the Mondriaan Foundation and the French Embassy.

For more information go to: http://www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz

Art 38 Basel
The International Art Show, June 13 - 17, 2007
http://www.ArtBasel.com

Art 38 Basel: Crossroads of the International Art World

The 38th edition of Art Basel takes place in the museum city of Basel (Switzerland) from June 13 through 17, 2007. It is the world’s leading art show and annual meeting place of the international art world. Over 55,000 visitors and approximately 2,000 media representatives are expected. Some 300 galleries from all continents have been selected to participate. They will be showing works by over 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. «Art On Stage,» presented by Art Basel in association with the Theater Basel, makes its debut this year. The partnership is an ideal platform for visual artists who need a large stage and an auditorium for their projects. «Art On Stage» will be inaugurated by Hugo Boss Prize-winning Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija with his performance «An Untitled Concert.» Another new addition this year is the «Artists Lounge» designed for Art Basel by students of the renowned Städelschule in Frankfurt am
Main. Running under the title «Plenty of Liberti es,» the project has resulted in a remarkable 350m2 lounge space. Further special sectors feature one-person shows of young artists, editions and multiples, artist films, artist records, and public art projects. The «Art Unlimited» exhibition, presenting over 70 large-scale projects, and «Art Basel Conversations,» with distinguished panelists, represent further highlights. On Thursday, June 14, Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando will be talking about art and architecture. One of his new museum projects will also be introduced in the Art Institutions sector (Hall 1).

Every form of artistic expression will be represented at Art 38 Basel, the repertoire ranging from paintings, drawings, editions, and sculptures to installations, performance work, and internet and video art. Works costing a few thousand dollars by young, yet-to-be discovered artists will be on display alongside museum-quality masterpieces priced in the millions. The «Art Unlimited» hall will be showcasing ambitious large-scale projects such as can be seen at no other art fair in the world. Exhibition Square in front of Art Basel will provide a platform for art projects in public space. Nine projects by Wim Delvoye, Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, Anish Kapoor, Tadashi Kawamata, Paul McCarthy, Mike Nelson, Vedovamazzei, Not Vital, and Thomas Zipp will be displayed there during the international art show. The cultural institutions of the city will be staging accompanying events and mounting exhibitions focusing on such artists as Robert Gober, Jasper Johns, Bri
ce Marden, E dvard Munch, the Situationists, and others.

News

New «Art on Stage»
«Art On Stage,» presented by Art Basel in association with the Theater Basel, makes its debut this year. The partnership is an ideal platform for visual artists who need a large stage and an auditorium for their projects. «Art On Stage» will be inaugurated by Hugo Boss Prize-winning Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija with his performance «An Untitled Concert.» The music will be provided by the well-known Basel Sinfonietta Orchestra. «Art On Stage» is curated by Jens Hoffmann.

«Art Unlimited»
«Art Unlimited» has approximately 70 unconventional works on show. The platform enables artists to exhibit works that can rarely be presented owing to spatial, temporal, technical, financial, contextual, or conceptual constraints. Works by such established artists as Ai Weiwei, Alighiero e Boetti, Allora + Calzadilla, Carl Andre, Daniel Buren, Alexander Calder, Bruce Conner, Carlos Garaicoa, David Hammons, Pierre Huyghe, Glenn Ligon, Allan McCollum, Annette Messager, Hélio Oiticica, Gregor Schneider, Jim Shaw, Catherine Sullivan, and Marijke van Warmerdam will be joined by a large number of pieces by young and little-known artists. Many of the works have been produced especially for «Art Unlimited.»

«Art Premiere»
Following its enormously successful debut last year, the special «Art Premiere» sector is being expanded from 12 to 16 galleries. This year’s «Art Premiere» will be running under the heading of artists in dialogue and artists in juxtaposition. The 16 projects promise to provide fascinating, surprising, sometimes provocative confrontations. Works by artists representing different cultural backgrounds, different generations, or different artistic approaches will be set against each other. Pieces by 80-year-old Viennese Actionist Otto Mühl will, for example, be appearing alongside works by Mike Bouchet, an American artist born in 1970; Daniel Buren will be dialoguing with Paris-based Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed; and American artists Barbara Bloom and Zoe Leonard will be juxtaposing their artistic concepts.

«Art Statements»
The «Art Statements» sector is being expanded to include 26 one-person shows of young artists this year. The 26 artists from 16 countries were selected from 250 applications. For over 10 years now, «Art Statements» has been providing young artists with a special platform that brings them to the attention of an international audience of curators, collectors, and the media. The 26 projects promise art enthusiasts fascinating discoveries and intriguing encounters with the work of the latest generation of artists. The exhibition platform is complemented by a bookstore, a video library, a cafeteria, and the «Art Lobby» forum, where artists, art mediators, and the public have several opportunities daily to meet and exchange ideas.

«Art Basel Conversations»
Prominent art collectors, museum directors, artists, and art patrons will be discussing subjects connected with collecting and exhibiting art. The premiere of this year’s Art Basel Conversations, on Monday, June 11, features Emilia and Ilya Kabakov in conversation with philosopher Boris Groys.

On Tuesday Chris Dercon (Haus der Kunst, Munich), Alfred Pacquement (Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris), Nicholas Serota (Tate, London), Lars Nittve (Moderna Museet, Stockholm), and Peter Weibel (ZKM Karlsruhe) will be discussing «The Future of the Museum: Europe.» Hosts: Hans Ulrich Obrist, Beatrix Ruf (Director, Kunsthalle Zurich).

«Art Collections as Cultural Heritage» is the topic on Wednesday, June 13. The panel is composed of Bernhard Mendes Burgi (Kunstmuseum Basel), Mikhail Piotrovsky (Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg), Klaus-Peter Schuster (Staatliche Museen, Berlin), Wilfried Seipel (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna), and Giandominico Romaneli (Venice Museums). Host: Peter Aspden (arts writer for the Financial Times).

The discussion on Thursday is devoted to «Artists: Production - Coproduction - Overproduction.» Panelists are Christian Boltanski, Martin Creed, and Jimmie Durham. Host: John Armleder.

Under the heading of «Featured Artists,» Daniel Buren will be talking to Daniel Birnbaum (Director and Professor, Städelschule Art Academy and Portikus Gallery, Frankfurt-am-Main) on Saturday, June 16, and French artist Bertrand Lavier will be in conversation with Jean-Hubert Martin (curator, Paris) on Sunday, June 17.

«Public Art Projects»
The exhibition area in front of the buildings hosting the international art show is once again scheduled to become an arena for art projects in public space. Nine projects by such internationally recognized artists as Wim Delvoye, Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, Anish Kapoor, Tadashi Kawamata, Paul McCarthy, Mike Nelson, Vedovamazzei, Not Vital, and Thomas Zipp will be installed there. Their artistic interventions will be connecting with the daily lives of passersby in ways now poetic, now alienating or surprising.

«Artist Records»
After presenting special exhibitions of artist books for the last two years, this year Art Basel focuses its special exhibition on sound recordings produced or designed by artists (Jack Goldstein, Rodney Graham, Jutta Koether, Christian Marclay, Carsten Nicolai, Genesis P-Orridge, and many others). The exhibition will be accompanied by information events and presentations in the presence of the artists.

«Art Film»
The «Art Film» sector once again has a top-flight program of new films by and about artists in store at the Stadtkino Basel. «Art Film» is curated by Benjamin Weil, Executive Director of Artists Space, New York. This Brunner, a collector with profound knowledge of the international film scene, and artist John Armleder will each be organizing an evening with special guests.

«Professional Day»
«Professional Day,» which is geared to museum professionals, art dealers, and collectors, takes place on Friday, June 15, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Exhibitors will be staging special activities or rehanging part of their booths for the occasion. Hall 1, housing Art Unlimited, Art Statements, Artist Records, and Art Institutions, opens to the general public at 11 a.m. Admission to Hall 2 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday is by invitation only.

Museum exhibitions in Basel
Rarely have the museum exhibitions in and around Basel been as outstanding as this year. On show at the Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel: «Edvard Munch - Signs of Modern Art»; at the Kunstmuseum Basel: «Jasper Johns. An Allegory of Paintings 1955-1965»; at the Schaulager: «Robert Gober. Works 1976-2006»; at the Museum Jean Tinguely: «The Situationist International: 1957-1972»; at the Kunsthalle Basel: «Micol Assael»; at the Kunstmuseum Basel - Museum für Gegenwartskunst: «Jean-Frédéric Schnyder, Brice Marden.»

For further information please visit http://www.ArtBasel.com

For more information go to: http://www.ArtBasel.com