Exquisite Corpse

MASS Gallery is pleased to announce Exquisite Corpse, an exhibition dealing with the reconfigured body in the 21st century.  The title Exquisite Corpse comes from the collaborative game that began among the Dadaist writers as a poetic exercise and which the Surrealists later transformed into a drawing game.  When played well, the game produces grotesque and beautiful bodies that surprise even their creators. Exquisite Corpse brings together artists working in the art centers of LA and NYC whose work reimagines the human form in ways that reflect upon contemporary life.

A central problem of 21st century life is that the old, psychologically fortifying myths are fading.  Philosophers and scientists have described us as wet robots and biological algorithms, which is perhaps an intentionally shocking way to describe humanity, but these descriptions also seems to get close to a dangerous truth that contains a kernel of abject horror.  It is the artist’s job to create psychologically coherent images which look forward.  It is now a matter of viewpoint whether, when it is all said and done, you are a dead body or an Exquisite Corpse.

Exquisite Corpse is curated by Amir H. Fallah and will feature works by: Dan Attoe, Jay Davis, Bill Donovan, Austin Eddy, Amir H. Fallah, Chie Fueki, Joshua Hagler, Adam D. Miller, Kymia Nawabi, Christopher Pate, Max Presniell, Colette Robbins, Maja Ruznic, Tom Sanford, Alfred Steiner, Michael Shaw, and Dani Tull.

MASS Gallery is excited to present this group of challenging artists as they explore the body and what it means to be human in these accelerating times.  Accompanying the exhibition will be a full-color catalog featuring reproductions of the artists’ work with an essay by Bill Donovan.