Exhibition 211
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Exhibition 211 (at the time referred to as simply 'Exhibition' or '211') was an art exhibition that ran from March to August 2009 in New York City. It was initiated through a series of discussions between Warren Neidich and Mathieu Copelands in 2010 in Paris and New York City. But the series of instruments for its production, like the role of the roll of dice, the picking of cut up names out of a hat and the rules of engagement, see below, came later through discussions between Warren Neidich and Eric Angles. These were further formulated when the program was initiated and programmed by artist friends Elena Bajo, Eric Anglès, Jakob Schillinger, Nathalie Anglès, and Warren Neidich, offering "an experimental and contradictory artistic and curatorial approach",[1] notably a set of rules, defining when, where, and who by, artistic interventions would take place.
The project was established in the loaned storefront of 211 Elizabeth, a luxury condominium development. Being close to the New Museum, and two blocks from Prada and Armani,[2] Exhibition spoke not only to the current economic climate, after the 2008 financial crisis, but the problems of art treated as a (luxury) commodity.
About Exhibition, Artist Diana Artus wrote: "The most important principle was that only one exhibition will be shown, during which time it will be in continuous development, as new people – artists, curators, and others known by the initiators – are invited to participate", she also wrote that "a fundamental aim was to provoke differences of opinion, rather than placate them."[3]
Exhibition (211) exhibited over 50, and up to 100 artists, including: Boshko Boskovic, Mathieu Copeland, Loretta Fahrenholz, Donna Huanca , Sean Raspet, Alexis Knowlton,[4] Liz Magic Laser, David Levine, An Te Lieu, Jen Liu, Jason Loebs Archived 2018-03-28 at the Wayback Machine, Emily Mast, Amy Patton, Georgia Sagri, Alexandre Singh
Mark Tribe, and B. Wurtz.[5] Although each artist's work was not specifically identified due to the rules of adaptation and evolution involved in their participation.
The approach, guided by a set of rules, became integral to the forms and conversations that pursued. Elena Bajo, Eric Anglès, Jakob Schillinger, Nathalie Anglès, and Warren Neidich discussed many potential artists to be invited, the names of which were then put into, and subsequently drawn from a hat. The artist would then be invited to space and asked if they would work with the concept and requirements:
- 1. The artist is drawn from a hat.
- 2. The artist works in one of six areas determined by a roll of dice.
- 3. The artist could then decide to add to, modify or clear out the section before going on.
- 1. The work is not for sale and belongs to no one.
- 2. The work is an intervention upon interventions.
- 3. The work can be modified, parasitized and destroyed.
On May 12, 2009, Kemi Ilesanmi described Exhibition for Art 21 Magazine: "at least every three days, there is a new artist intervention, and while they can make whatever manner of changes inside the space, artists may not remove their own art works afterwards."[6]
The approach of Exhibition echoed the cut-up technique by Bryon Gysin and William S. Burroughs, which is also visible in Warren Neidich's own artistic practice.
The method is simple. Here is one way to do it. Take a page. Like this page. Now cut down the middle and cross the middle. You have four sections: 1 2 3 4 ... one two three four. Now rearrange the sections placing section four with section one and section two with section three. And you have a new page. Sometimes it says much the same thing. Sometimes something quite different--(cutting up political speeches is an interesting exercise)--in any case you will find that it says something and something quite definite. Take any poet or writer you fancy. Heresay, or poems you have read over many times. The words have lost meaning and life through years of repetition. Now take the poem and type out selected passages. Fill a page with excerpts. Now cut the page. You have a new poem. As many poems as you like. As many Shakespeare Rimbaud poems as you like.[7]