September 13 2004, Monday, 10am-6pm (continues until October 9 2004, Saturday, 10am-6pm)
COLOGNE-BASED ARTIST, GEORGE BRECHT (b. 1926, NEW YORK) EXHIBITS ARTWORKS FROM FIFTIES, SIXTIES & SEVENTIES, AT HEDDON STREET’S GAGOSIAN GALLERY
Several days ago we attended the opening reception of Cologne-based artist, George Brecht exhibition, "Works from 1959-1973" at one of the Gagosian Galleries in London. The press release we picked up at the opening describes the artist as, ‘one of the most influential artists of the 1960s in New York, where he became involved with the experimental group of artists associated with Fluxus such as John Cage, Walter de Maria and George Maciunas.’ After informing us that Brecht’s education had included oriental philosophy, research chemistry and statistics, the release continued, ‘An underlying principle in Brecht’s oeuvre, inspired by the Dadaist Tristan Tzara, is that "reality is more interesting and important than art." Following this paradigm, Brecht incorporated music, time and space in his work, presenting simple, randomly arranged objects and calling on the viewer to bring his own experiences to the work: to interact with the object, to rearrange elements, or to do nothing.’ This occasion was the first time we had visited the gallery, based in Heddon Street – a narrow street, just off Regent Street. We were pleased with what we saw, and we recommend you go along, and discover more for yourself.
Note that Gagosian has
two large galleries in London. The other – the bigger, of the two – is located
near King’s Cross. We also visited it, only days before the Heddon Street
exhibition. On show (for only five days) in Britannia Street, were a couple of
works by Anthony McCall, who, co-incidentally, was in discussion at Tate
Britain, one evening late last week. Did you get along? Unfortunately, we could
not make it. Maybe another time! Anyway, the Heddon Street exhibition is on
until the second week of October, so you have plenty of time to get along to the
Gagosian and see fifteen years of Brecht!
MENU A: Free
E: (see website)
L: Gagosian Gallery, 8 Heddon Street, London, W1
N: 020 7292 8222
T: Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo & Piccadilly lines)
W: http://www.gagosian.com/
