I THINK AND THAT IS ALL THAT I AM
JANUARY 20 - MARCH 10, 2012
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STEVEN BALDI
WALEAD BESHTY
NATHAN HYLDEN
LUCAS KNIPSCHER
SCOTT LYALL
ZAK PREKOP
CHADWICK RANTANEN
BLAKE RAYNE
CARISSA RODRIGUEZ
VALERIE SNOBECK
FREDRIK VÆRSLEV
To what extent are we plastic? – Catherine Malabou
Thomas Duncan Gallery is pleased to present its inaugural exhibition I Think and That Is All That I Am, which takes as its point of departure the notion of plasticity, exploring the term in both neurological and art historical senses. In neuroscience plasticity refers to the manner in which the physical structure of the brain changes over time through learning and experience - how the brain itself is pliable. Plasticity in art historical discourses relates to the materiality of the art-making process (the tangible, malleable ‘product’ as a physical form).
The term, then, is used here as a catalyst for a dialogue which investigates how synaptic activity and artistic modalities can simultaneously inform and mirror one another - how the reformation of the brain influences the concept of 'work' in terms of artistic production, and vice-versa. The exhibition examines how the ‘sculpting’ of the brain is a reciprocal process: the internalization of experience and influence is externalized via individual artistic practice and is in turn recuperated, re-experienced and re-evaluated, enabling a continual progression of output. Well aware of this occurrence and how both the brain and artistic practice are networks of distribution, the artists here share an informed specificity of choice, where plasticity’s potential is fully explored.
How have contemporary working conditions in our digital age manifested themselves in the dispersed networks of artists’ oeuvres?
How does this ‘materiality’ mimic or differ from plasticity on a cellular level?
How does this self-reflexive investigation affect means of operation?
While not attempting to directly answer any of these questions the exhibition provides a platform where viewers may draw their own parallels.
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THOMAS DUNCAN GALLERY
6109 MELROSE AVENUE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90038
T: 310 494 1177
WWW.THOMASDUNCANGALLERY.COM