On the Ground. Björn Braun, Alex Cecchetti, Julie C. Fortier, Helen Mirra and Jorge Peris
Press release
Luis Adelantado is pleased to announce its reopening with the collective exhibition that was scheduled for the beginning of April, On the Ground, which explores the paths taken by different artists with and for nature. In line with this theme, the expression “on the ground” refers to a state of common sense, of physical contact with the natural environment, a process of silent listening, observation and minimal action.
On the Ground is a compilation of dialogues between the five artists whose work is exhibited: Björn Braun, Julie C. Fortier, Jorge Peris, Helen Mirra and Alex Cecchetti, creating a fragmented, subjective narrative throughout the four floors of the gallery. This narrative recreates a plural, vertical landscape, which takes us closer to the call of the wild through very different disciplines, as something that generates life and contemplation. It is a message that is even more poignant with the times we are going through at present. Somehow, these artists have related to the urgency of humans to get back in touch with nature and to protect it.
Björn Braun (Berlin, 1979), takes the relationship with animals to the limit, which play a starring role in his sculptures. Bites and licks from different animals, and from Braun himself give shape to the exhibited sculptures and paintings, where randomness and circumstance confer a certain tribal mysticism to the action.
Helen Mirra (Rochester, 1970) takes a minimalistic, well thought-out approach to the footprint of nature. Linen cloth is used to depict her forays into nature. Mirra designs her work in the form of prints: every hour she stops on her walk through nature to find an object, albeit a piece of straw, a leaf or a twig, which she then paints with ink and presses onto the cloth to leave a print of the object. Seven impressions a day, giving rise to subtle horizontal landscapes.
Jorge Peris (Alzira, 1969), delights us with a new piece of work continuing on from his current exhibition at the IVAM. From a jumble of old burglar bars, always balanced, he recreates a type of prison, one that reminds us that these burglar bars not only protect us, but also limit our freedom.
Julie C. Fortier (Quebec, 1973) on the other hand, brings a specific project focussing on the context of Valencia, a series of works which, in the form of olfactive landscapes, which evoke a route around the Citrus Foundation in La Safor region and its proximity to the Mediterranean.
Alex Cecchetti (Terni, 1977) brings lost harmony with the environment to the exhibition, and will raise our awareness on the outdoors within the privacy
of the gallery. Indeed, Cecchetti’s minimalist drawings, Song of Solitude are used as the musical score to be performed with the different objects that imitate birdsong, suddenly the white cube collapses and we find ourselves outside the city, directly On the Ground.
of the gallery. Indeed, Cecchetti’s minimalist drawings, Song of Solitude are used as the musical score to be performed with the different objects that imitate birdsong, suddenly the white cube collapses and we find ourselves outside the city, directly On the Ground.