ON EQUAL TERMS I
Nov 29, 2019 – Jan 31, 2020
Karen Lofgren
Geb. 1976 in Toronto, lebt und arbeitet in Los Angeles
Noch nie in der Geschichte der Menschheit war der empirische Kanon der westlichen Welt so erfolgreich wie im digitalen Zeitalter. Wir erleben eine regelrechte Wissensexplosion ungekannter Größenordnung. Karen Lofgren steht dieser Erfolgsgeschichte kritisch gegenüber. Sie betrachtet die Wissenschaftsgeschichte von einem feministischen, dekolonialen und „hypersubjektiven“ Standpunkt aus und möchte Wissensbereiche (rück-) erschließen, die von der traditionellen Forschung ausgeschlossen oder nicht beachtet werden.
Die plastischen Arbeiten What is to Cure (2018) entstanden nach einem mehrmonatigen Aufenthalt im Amazonas-Regenwald und intensiven Studien zu indigenem Medizinwissen und seiner Unterdrückung durch die kolonialen Mächte. So bezieht sich die Werkgruppe Pulling Through (a softer index) auf ein Heilungsritual, bei dem der Kranke durch ein Objekt gezogen wird, um so eine magische Barriere um seinen Körper zu erschaffen. Zugleich verweisen die in Aluminium gegossenen Strukturen auf eine weitere Heilmethode, bei der die Krankheit auf speziell zugeschnittene und präparierte Äste übertragen wird.
Für Karen Lofgren ist das skulpturale Arbeiten zugleich politisch, sozial und persönlich. Im Schaffensprozess verbinden sich für sie die Wahrnehmung des Körpers mit Dingen, „die wir gekannt, gefühlt, gelebt und unausgesprochen gelassen haben.“ Ihre Serie Curse and the Cure (Imperial Ghost)besteht aus riesigen Blättern der Amazonas-Riesenseerose (Victoria Amazonica). Die Künstlerin hat sie in Originalgröße in Epoxidharz gegossen und dabei Materialien wie Aluminiumpulver, Wolle, Schlamm, Blut und Marmorstaub eingearbeitet. In der traditionellen Medizinpraxis werden dieser Pflanze besondere Heilkräfte zugesprochen.
Karen Lofgren
Born in Toronto in 1976, lives and works in Los Angeles.
Never before in the history of mankind has the Western empirical canon been as successful as it is now in the digital age. We are experiencing a veritable explosion of knowledge of previously unknown proportions. Karen Lofgren examines this success story with a critical eye. She considers the history of science from a feminist, decolonial and “hypersubjective” standpoint and would like to (re)gain access to areas of science that were excluded or ignored by traditional research.
The sculptural works What is to Cure (2018) were created after the artist spent several months in the Amazonian rainforest as well as a extended period studying indigenous medicine and its suppression by colonial powers. For instance, the group of works titled Pulling Through (a softer index) relates to a healing ritual whereby a sick person is pulled through an object in order to create a magical barrier around his or her body. At the same time, aluminium-cast structures make reference to another healing method where a disease is transferred to specially cut and prepared branches.
Karen Lofgren sees her sculptural work as being political, social and personal at the same time. In the creative process, she says that “perceptions of the body connect to things we have known, felt, lived, and left unspoken”. Her series Curse and the Cure (Imperial Ghost) consists of enormous leaves from the Victoria giant water lily (Victoria Amazonica). The artist recreated these in their original proportions, moulding them out of epoxy resin and incorporating materials such as aluminium powder, wool, mud, blood and marble dust. This plant was attributed special healing powers in traditional medicine.
Education
Master of Fine Art in Visual Art, CalArts, Valencia, CA, USA, 2000
AOCAD, Sculpture/Installation (Honours), OCAD University, Toronto, Canada, 1998
Solo Exhibitions
2018 What is to Cure, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
2017 Como lo cura, Espacio Pausa, Lima, Peru
2016 Other Relevant Experience, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
2016 On the River, VOLUME at South of Sunset, Los Angeles
2015 Ritual Landscape, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Palm Desert
2014 Trajectory Object, High Desert Test Sites, Pioneertown, CA (artist book edition)
2013 Karen Lofgren: Stabilizers, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena
2013 Blood Sister, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Palm Desert
2011 Be Like Water, PØST, Los Angeles (artist book)
2010 Signs Point to Yes, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
2009 Gold Flood, Pitzer Art Galleries, Claremont (artist book)
2005 Believer, Machine Project, Los Angeles
Selected Group Exhibitions and Projects
2020 Our Duty is to Experiment, PRISKA PASQUER, Cologne, Germany
2020 Drive By Art, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Clinton Hill, Karen Lofgren, Joel Otterson, Royale Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2019 On Equal Terms I, PRISKA PASQUER, Cologne, Germany
2019 Double Take: Jen Aitken/Karen Lofgren, Royale Projects, Los Angeles
2019 Crosscurrents: Tracing Cultural Identity, Glendale College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
2019 Brave New Worlds: Explorations of Space, Palm Springs Art Museum, catalogue
2019 Todo en ti fue naufragio, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro
2019 Woven Stories, Museum of Art and History, Lancaster
2019 Come Together, Royale Projects, Los Angeles
2018 Undisrememberable Curios, PØST, Los Angeles
2018 Manifesto: A Modest Proposal, Pitzer College Art Galleries, Claremont
2018 Note to Self, Royale Projects, Los Angeles
2018 FOCUS California, Art Toronto curated section
2017 KNOWLEDGES, Mount Wilson Observatory, California
2017 The Fourth World, Institute for Art and Olfaction, Los Angeles
2017 And the Sky is Grey, Art Toronto FOCUS exhibition
2017 Future Eve, Fellows of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (catalogue)
2016 Horizons of Juno, MASS Gallery, Austin, TX
2016 From Baroque to Bling: From the Collection of Donna MacMillan, Palm Springs Art Museum
2016 Eternal Telethon with John Burtle, Biquini Wax, Mexico City
2016 Objects May Appear, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Palm Desert
2016 Hello My Name is, Royale Projects Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
2015 Self Actualizers: SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM, solo project, Art Toronto, catalogue
2015 Living Together, collaboration with Jay Erker, East Side International, Los Angeles
2015 Abstracted Visions, Cerritos College Art Gallery, catalogue
2014 Packed and Jammed, Glendale College Art Gallery, Glendale
2014 Cryptographics: tribute to the Voynich Manuscript, Artslant at EXPO Chicago
2014 Open House, The Property, Los Angeles
2014 Study for Future Rock, solo project at Sun Yat Sen Garden for Vancouver Biennale
2014 PRESENTS, Commonwealth & Council, Los Angeles
2014 Tender Buttons, Royal College of Art, Hockney Gallery, London, UK
2013 No Dull Affairs, Onsite (at) OCAD U, Toronto
2013 Dig the Dig, LA Mart and Santa Monica Museum of Art
2013 Looking Back At Tomorrow, Royale Projects, Palm Desert
2012 Agency of Unrealized Projects), DAAD Galerie, Berlin and e-flux
2012 Dualities, Bank of America Plaza, Los Angeles
2012 The Paranoia of Time, Carter & Citizen, Los Angeles
2012 Don’t the Sun Look Angry at Me, Royale Projects, Indian Wells
2012 00:00 [RESET], Human Resources for Pacific Standard Time, LA
2011 I don’t know where but she sends me there: six Los Angeles artists nowRoyale Projects, Indian Wells, CA
2011 Perpitube, Pitzer Art Galleries, Claremont
2011 Get Hubbied, Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2011 iced, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor, NY
2011 The Open Daybook, LACE (catalogue)
2011 Believer, (solo project) Culver Center for the Arts/Sweeney Gallery, Riverside
2010 Open Arms, Summercamp Project Project, El Sereno
2010 Slab in Temporary Space, Temporary Space, Houston
2010 B538: Fifth Floor, Design Loves Art, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood
2009 Veronica, Pitzer Art Galleries, Claremont Colleges (catalogue)
2009 Exquisite Corpse, Mihai Nicodim, Los Angeles
2008 A Machine Project Field Guide to LACMA, LACMA (catalogue)
2008 forming, storming, norming, performing, Circus Gallery
2008 Slab at the Old LA Zoo
2008 At the Middle of Nowhere, 533, Los Angeles
2008 The Black Dragon Society, Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles
2006 Street Signs and Solar Ovens: Socialcraft in Los Angeles, Craft and Folk Art Museum, LA
2006 Rocktobersurprisefest, Glendale College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
2006 Bleeding Edge Festival, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA
2006 Carter, Kate Davis, Karen Lofgren, Torbjorn Vejvi , Anna Helwing Gallery, LA
2006 Hotel California, Glendale College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
2005 S.E.L.F., Daniel Hug Gallery, Los Angeles
2005 Christmas in July, Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles
2005 star left, Journal of Aesthetics and Protest at LACE
2004 High Desert Test Sites#4, Joshua Tree, CA
Awards
2020 Canada Council Explore and Create Grant
2019 Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant
2018 Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create Grant Award
2017/2018 Fulbright Core Scholar Grant, UAL, Central St. Martins College, London
2014 Artist in Residence, Vancouver Biennale
2014 The Ranch Projects, production grant
2013 West of Rome Public Art, mini-production grant
2009 Durfee Foundation ARC Grant
2009 Artist in Residence, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
2003 Canada Council for the Arts Emerging Artist Production Award
Visiting Artist, Lectures, Panels, Teaching
2020 Vermont College of Fine Arts, Artist Mentor
2019 AxS Symposium Speaker, Fulcrum Arts, Art Center College of Design
2019 Botanical Potentials: Beatriz Cortez, Karen Lofgren, and Jenny Yurshansky panel moderated by Ciara Ennis
2019 Karen Lofgren: Symbols, Teen Arts Academy workshop, Palm Springs Art Museum
2019 Crosscurrents: Tracing Cultural Identity artist talk, Glendale College
2018 What is to Cure conversation with Ron Athey, December 8, Royale Projects
2018 Saas-Fee Summer Institute, Co-presenter with Florencia Portocarrero, Los Angeles
2018 Artist Lectures/Presentations, Central St. Martins College, University of the Arts, London
2018 Visiting Speaker, Sheffield Institute of the Arts, Sheffield Hallam University, England
2018 Visiting Speaker, University of Central Lancashire, England
2017/18 Fulbright Core Scholar, UAL, Central St. Martins College, London
2017 Artist in Residence, Espacio Pausa, Lima, Peru
2016 Other Relevant Experience artist talk with Robert Crouch and Karen Lofgren
2015 Visiting Artist: UCLA Sculpture
2015 Can Serrat Residency with support stipend, El Bruc, Spain
2014 Visiting Artist, Pitzer College
2013 Idyllwild Arts Academy, visiting artist
2013 Guest speaker and panelist, Onsite (at) OCAD U, Toronto
2013 Visiting Artist, Pitzer College
2012 Panelist: Mixed Marriage: Artists, Curators, and the Exhibition moderated by Ciara Ennis with Rebecca Morse, Holly Meyers, Rebecca McGrew, Carrie Paterson at Torrance Art Museum
2012 Studio Artist/Guest Lecture, OTIS College of Art
2011 Guest speaker, Pitzer Art Galleries, Perpetitube Gallery exhibition
2011 Artist Talk, I don’t know where but she sends me there, Royale Projects
2011 Panel Discussion: Get Hubbied, Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2011 Curatorial Project Objects for the Living, with Joshua Callaghan, Naotaka Hiro, Olga Koumoundouros, PØST
2011 Artist Talk for The Open Daybook with David Earle, LACE
2011 X-TRA Magazine, 1image1minute presenter
2010 Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, exhibiting artist talk with Andrew Berardini
2010 Andrea Bowers, Olga Koumoundouros, Karen Lofgren; moderated by Liz Glynn at FOCA
2010 Occidental College Visiting Artist
2009 Pitzer College Visiting Artist
2007-09 Instructor, Riverside Community College: Introduction to Life Drawing, Art for Teachers
2005-07 Adjunct Professor of Art, Chaffey College: Experimental Drawing, 2-D design, 3-D intro
Bibliography
“Free Radicals Fulcrum Arts Symposium”, Event Pick, Shana Dambrot, LA Weekly, November 2019
“Art, Science, and Awe”, Pasadena Now, November 2019
Brave New Worlds, edited by Mara Gladstone, exhibition catalogue, 2019
“Brave New Worlds” Art & Cake LA, September 2019
“Palm Springs Art Museum Exhibition Pushes Viewers to New Vantage Points”, Kaylee Beam
Desert Sun, July 31, 2019
“Brave New Worlds: Explorations of Space, Bodies, Space, and Energy”, Jake Carver,
Flaunt.com, May 29, 2019
Full Blede Issue Seven: “The Continuant”, January 2019
“Interview: Karen Lofgren on the Occasion of What is to Cure”, January 2019, Sascha Baumann
“Karen Lofgren’s Cure for the Common Patriarchy”, Shana Nys Dambrot, LA Weekly, Nov 28, 2018
“The Fourth World”, Shana Nys Dambrot, Art and Cake Magazine, October 22, 2017
“Where the Stars and Art Align”, Caroline Miranda, The Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2017, print ed.
Moskovsky Komsomolets, Moscow, “The New Urban Sculpture”, Smirnitskiy Yan, April 24, 2017
NOW Magazine, Toronto, “Shows We’d Love to See”, Rosemary Heather, January 18, 2017
Future Eve Exhibition catalogue, Jared Baxter, Fellows of Contemporary Art, 2017
“Thanks for the Mammaries”, group catalogue, Bettina Hubby, Los Angeles Nomadic Division, 2016
“Karen Lofgren: Other Relevant Experience”, Cooper Johnson, Artillery Magazine, April 20, 2016
Abstracted Visions: Information Mapping from Mystic Diagrams to Data Visualizations; p. 52-53, James MacDevitt, Cerritos College Art Gallery exhibition catalogue, 2015
“Karen Lofgren’s Trajectory Object Buried at High Desert Test Sites”, Kimberly Nichols, Droste
Effect magazine, Bologna, Italy, January 31, 2014
“New Art Lab: Karen Lofgren’s Trajectory Object at High Desert Test Sites”, Newtopia Magazine, 2014
Karen Lofgren: Trajectory Object c. 2000-2050, artist book edition of 500, designed by Willem Henri Lucas, text by Ben Ehrenreich, 2014
“Karen Lofgren: Stabilizers”, pamphlet essay, Sinead Finnerty-Pyne, Armory Center for the Arts, 2013
“No Dull Affairs”, Caitlin Sutherland, Daily Serving, Toronto, June 2013
“The desert, the edge of the city: Karen Lofgren at Royale Projects”, Jared Baxter,
Artslant Los Angeles, May 2013 http://www.artslant.com/la/articles/show/34969
Get Hubbied, catalogue edition, 2012; cover image and featured project
Dispatches and Directions: On Artist Run Organizations in Los Angeles,
p.118-119 featured project; Art 2102, designed by Willem Henri Lucas, 2011
Karen Lofgren “Be Like Water”, artist book edition, 2011/2012
The Open Daybook, ed. David Earle, Random House, 2010
A Field Guide to LACMA, ed. Machine Project, LACMA/DAP 2009; p. 31-32
Veronica, Ciara Ennis, Exhibition Catalogue, Pitzer College, 2009
Artforum.com “Critic’s Picks: Karen Lofgren”, Andrew Berardini, August 26, 2009
James Hardway, EP Album ‘oicho’ cover featuring “Downward Dog”, August 2009
Karen Lofgren “Gold Flood”, edition of 100 artist books, August 2009
IE Weekly, “Golden Rules: Installation Artist Karen Lofgren Taps Into Our Collective Unconscious”, Stacy Davies, July 30, 2009
LA Weekly “LACMA Deconstructed”, Gendy Alimurung, November 20, 2008
Mercury News “Villa Montalvo’s Bleeding Edge Festival”, Brad Kava, August 2006
NZZ Folio, Switzerland, LA feature article/image, June 2006
CalArts Magazine, “Machine Project: No White Cube”, Margaret Crane, Spring 2006
LA Times, “Alchemy Yeilds a Subtle Magic”, David Pagel, August 26, 2005
Journal of Aesthetics and Protest issue 2, 2003; cover
Collaborations or Performances/Sculptures/Props/Designs/Schematics With and for:
Ron Athey; c-level; Cassils; Robert Crouch; Krysten Cunningham; Vaginal Davis; Zackary Drucker; Ben Ehrenreich; Jay Erker; Willem Henri Lucas; The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black
OUR DUTY IS TO EXPERIMENT – 20 years Galerie PRISKA PASQUER
July 2, 2020 – August 1, 2020