Week 2 - Auckland Triennial 2010

1.What are the themes behind the title "Last ride...' for the
Auckland triennial?
-the title "last ride in a hot air balloon" is a speculative approach to describing being adventurous and taking a risk with today's contemporary art.
-this leaves the works to be more thought provoking and open to individual perception, rather then apparent or literal.
-the theme pushes viewers to reflect differently on our engagement with adventure and risk, by looking at artists who generate an adventurous condition.

2. What does a curator of an exhibition do?

a host that guides or takes you through the main themes and ideas of the works.

3. Which countries are represented in this year's triennial?
-Middle East and Asia, opposite hemispheres - northern and southern

4. Is Auckland the only country to have a triennial? Are there other similar art shows?
-there are other triennial's and biennial's similar to ours in Auckland such as:

4th International Triennial of Graphic Arts -in Prague, Czech Republic (2004) Tallinn Print Triennial - in Tallinn City Gallery, Estonia (2007) Triennale de Chamalières - in Chamalieres, France (2006) 5. Name 4 artists who will be showing work in the show. - Shilpa Gupta ( Born 1976, Mumbai, India. Lives and works in Mumbai. - Bundith Phunsombatlert Born 1972, Bangkok, Thailand. Lives and works in Rhode Island, New York. - Shahab Fotouhi Born 1980, Yadz, Iran. Lives and works in Tehran, Iran and Frankfurt, Germany. - Alicia Frankovich Born 1980, Tauranga, New Zealand. Lives and works in Berlin, Germany and Melbourne, Australia. 6. Select an artist's work from the website, copy the work to your blog and write a short comment on what the work is, and what it represents.(Reference your sources) - Shahab Foutohi , Route 2010 Iranian artist Shahab Fotouhi presents a linear sculpture made of black and white neon that shows the helicopter route taken by Shiite Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini on his return from exile after the 1979 revolution. The six stops that Fotouhi's sculpture consists of ends with a high curved doorway that becomes a symbol for the country’s future. The neon trail is also accompanied by a video played on loop of Khomeini's supporters being whipped by leather belts to create a clearing for his helicopter to land. Referencing: http://eyecontactartforum.blogspot.com/2010/ 04/4th-auckland-triennial-themes-part-2.html http://www.aucklandtriennial.com/artists/shahabfotouhi.asp 7. Comment on why you find this work interesting, how does it relate to your own interests? -when first approaching the neon lights in such an open space, it felt like the archway was more of an entrance to a place of peace and serenity. It felt calm and like a hypnotized insect you feel somewhat fascinated and engrossed by the "glowing trail". This is what first caught my attention to the sculpture. However when acknowledging the theme and the looped video that accompanies Fotouhi's sculpture, i found the work both humorous yet daunting, with thinking this may be an interpretation of a "doorway to peace" when really such imagery can be seen as a hint to the brutal ruthlessness to come. The irony amused me.