THE INVISIBLE ENEMY
SHAHAR TUCHNER (IL)
25.6. - 24.7.2020
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BIO
Shahar Tuchner, born 1987, is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Israel. Tuchner is a graduate of the Open Program at Hamidrasha School of Art at Beit Berl College (2010). His works in various media, such as video-art, installation, painting and sculpture, often deal with social issues regarding consumerism, multiculturalism and representations of reality through the media (cinema, television, cyberculture, advertising, etc.). In his video-art works, Tuchner examines the relationship between image, movement and music, and in his sculptures and installations he often uses readymade in order to explore the line between common everyday objects and art. Tuchner’s works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions at leading galleries, art spaces and museums in Israel and around the world, including: Venice Biennale (Italy), Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburg (USA), The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham, NN Contemporary Art in Northampton, 5th Base Gallery in London, (UK), Janco-Dada Museum in Ein Hod, the Center for Contemporary Art (CCA) and Contemporary by Golconda Gallery in Tel Aviv (IL) and more. Tuchner has won several awards for his works, and they are included in the collections of the Yad Vashem Museum, Janco-Dada Museum, Israel, Danses Macabres Collection, France and private collectors worldwide. www.shahartuchner.com The exhibition description:
The exhibition shows works of art from different years before the beginning of the Corona epidemic, which are relevant to this period of social isolation and the new day-to-day behavior that we are all forced to adopt and act upon. The artworks range in a variety of mediums of video art, sculpture, installation, photography, etc. Some new works were done directly following this period, some were done previously over the years. The exhibition focuses on topics that are prominent at this time like hygiene, home staying, society’s handling of the situation, working in such times, future hope for better time, etc. This exhibition aims to deal with these subjects in a critical manner, but at the same time to give hope for the future.
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The work is a combination of mouth hygiene masks, African folk ceremonial masks and self-producing hygienic masks manufactured from materials that are available for office work, that is currently disabled. To the unemployed employee remained objects from the modern office: printer paper, staples, packaging cardboard and more. Objects currently unused, and he only had the option to take advantage of them and create a useful accessory for the time of social isolation and remoteness. |
African Mask - Assemblage, mixed media, 27 X 40 cm, 10.6 X 15.8 inch, 2013
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The need of the social isolation forces us all to be close indoors and protect outselves from the environment. So that we will not degenerate, our daily work has replaced discipline and cleanliness for the care of our homes, from laundry work, go-to plumbing, appliance repairs and ending in cooking. Maybe, sometimes the seclusion at home, and a variety of household chores involved in it, look like a prison when leaving from it only under restrictive and protected conditions. |
The Persil Tower, manipulated ready made, 60 X 60 X 135 cm, 23.7 X 23.7 X 53.2 inch, 2010
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As a symbol of respiratory protection equipment that citizens around the world are forced to wear, as a protection against the virus infection, this work portrays a plunger aggressively stuck between models of an upper and lower jaw. The act of pushing the plunger and closing the mouth, radicalize the way civilians are forced to defend themselves, starting with purchase a standard mouth masks, self-production of masks to various strange inventions that are intended to protect. The use of work in the plunger itself, creates inversion, related to the lack of sterility associated with it, that could lead to health damage in the oral cavity on the one hand, but on the other hand the plunger as a cleaning tool sharpens the importance of the hygiene. In addition to the physical sealing of mouths, the plunger's, her connection to sewage and the link to landings highlight the disrespectful attitude that popular protests have in the face of economic damage.
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Shut Up!, manipulated readymade, 20 X 15 X 50 cm, 7.8 X 5.9 X 19.6 inch (for each plunger), 2014
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The new era brought with it a greater awareness of human personal hygiene, This is due to the need to avoid the transmission of the epidemic and its infection. Viruses and many bacteria among other things, it is transmitted through body fluids and feces, and therefore receive a special dedicated treatment these days. In this artwork, they are featured as diamonds that the cleaner wants to grab by the brush. |
Toilet Brush In Corona Days, manipulated readymade; toilet brush and Swarovski stones, 35 X 24 X 11 cm, 13.8 X 9.5 X 4.4 inch, 2020
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Pot that split in two to reveal an unidentifiable substance denying all access to the food it supposedly contains. In an analogy to the ever worn down ability of low-income workers during the Corona crisis. Employees, self-employed, shop owners and unpaid leave workers struggling day by day and wondering how to feed themselves and their households with dignity.
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Pot-Split, manipulated readymade pot and polyurethane foam, 70 X 45 X 28 cm, 27.6 X 17.7 X 11 inch, 2009
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The piece is a domesticated bonfire that simulates a natural bonfire on the field. The fire is represented here by the soft "marshmallow fire", and by logs made of indigo ceramic pipes. The work is a comfort to the beautiful moments that were, and allows to remember and restore the seating around the fire outside, by placing a kind of bonfire that can also be held at home. The use of marshmallows allows people to taste from the “marshmallow fire” and the blue ceramic pipes allows peace and quiet.
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American Bonfire, ceramics and marshmallow, 90 X 70 X 75 cm, 35.5 X 27.6 X 29.6 inch, 2014
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Fast Food, video-art, 2:22 mins, 2014
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These times we all quickly stock up on food during wartime. In uncertain times like the time of the Corona, which we do not know if food items will be left on the shelves of the supermarket, there is a mass onslaught on consumer products on the food shelves. The video art shows a compilation of fast consumption of fast food edited to be perfectly in sync with cheerful music that illustrating the ecstasy of food storage that occurred from the beginning of the epidemic until now.
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Kiss Me Popcorn! video installation, 2:59 mins, 160 X 90 cm, 63 X 35.5 inch, 2014
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The corona epidemic will pass. The lack of knowing whether the life we have lived so far will have to change from now on, and the question of whether human habits will have to adapt to a new era in human history, accompanied by dilemmas including the natural act of man, the kiss, which can be seen in scenes in films that were before the epidemic. During this time, people are in homes and watching series and movies that incorporate everyday activities, that we are currently avoiding doing. Now we have nothing left to taste the popcorn, That in this work merges through the screen embedded with hatched popcorn seeds, With the kissing act, shown through a compilation of famous kisses from the film history, that they are projected on the same screen.
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A series of abstract polyurethane foam sculptures, demonstrate in their bold form and colors, "The invisible enemy" with whom we struggle.
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Floating Worms, mixed media: chicken nets, polyurethane foam and varnish, ~ 30 X 30 X 15 cm each, ~ 11.8 X 11.8 X 5.9 inch each, 2011
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Floating Worms, outdoor installation, duration of documentation: 3:25 mins, 2020
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Toxic floating worms suddenly came out during Corona spread and celebrated in the famous pool at the Tel Aviv cultural complex. The floating worms have spread during the Corona, violated the silence and daily life, and took over the celebration in an international recreation and cultural complex. This display of the floating worms demonstrates the sight that will characterize the area for a long time, in light of the slow rehabilition expected for the cultural institutions after beating Corona. This phenomenon can of course be projected to many places in the world.
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The Thing, video-art, 1:56 mins, 2014
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An unidentified object is put inside an ostrich ranch and disturbs its peacefulness. To the sounds of the opera “'Carmen”, the ostriches follow the object in an amused, curious and frightened dance, attempting to figure out how it should be treated, until they destroy it in play or self defense. The ostriches' treatment of the object may be viewed as an analogy to people's to the beginning of the attitude of the people of the world against coronavirus.
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Folk Dance, video-art, 4:43 mins, 2009 |
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The video shows a group of ethnic folk dancers dancing in perfect sync to the sounds of the popular song “I Will Survive”, as an impressive statement of social determination, showing people's desire to continue to live. Dancers holding hands dancing with decisive optimism and declare that "we will survive”.
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The Beginning of the End, video-art, 1:27 mins, 2012
As a sign of the vision and hope for exiting the Corona crisis, the work shows a group of soldiers occupied, not at war, but in a synchronized dance performance to the sounds of “Baba O'Riley” by “The Who”. The soldiers of the world enlisted to support the global struggle against Corona on the logistic side, but it would not be possible without following in a strict manner, orders and clear instructions given to the citizens. This future spectacle applauds both to the citizens of the world, to and the world armies and to the organizations that joined hands in a combined effort. Only together we will win.
The online exhibition calendar in spring 2020
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Shahar Tuchner- The Invisible Enemy - Solo exhibition 25.6.-24.7.2020 FEM4 14.5.-24.6.2020 -Un cuento de Santa Marìa -4-channel installation, Emanuele Dainotti Uruguay / Italy, 2018 2.4.-13.5.2020 -Twist, Delude, Dissemble and Flimflam, Danielle Heath, Sweden, 2018 -Oxygène, Amine Oulmakki, Morocco, 2015-2017 -It’s not what you think, Wai Man Leung, Hong Kong, 2018 -finland european, Sami Ala, Finland 2015 -Songs of Fortune, Veronika Burger, Germany / Austria, 2015 -Open Dialog, Irena Paskali, Macedonia /Germany/Russia, 2018 -Ocho Cortado, Martin Calvino, USA, 2018 20.2-1.4.2020 -Hairytale, Leena Lehti, Finland, 2015 -Anatolia, Sinasi Gunes, Turkey, 2006 -El Vacío de la Nada, Melina Peña, Estonia / Spain / Mexico, 2017 -Null Object, Citron Lunardi, Italy, 2018 -Shik Shak Shok, Shahar Tuchner, Israel, 2014 -The Mensch / Shahar Tuchner, Israel, 2012 -Dance What You Read, Martin Calvino, USA, 2017 -ant, Nacho Recio, Spain, 2015 9.1.- 19.2.2020 -"Offerta/Opera Vana", SpiegelimspiegelKollektiv, Italy / Germany, 2019 -PULPA, Nina Corti, Argentina, 2016 -O C C U P Y -Video-performance, Natacha Voliakovsky, Argentina, 2017 -Powerism, Hamza Kirbas, Turkey, 2018 -Cuatro Palabras, Martin Calvino, USA, 2017 -Vérorose, Veronica Burger, Austria / México 2012 -Grandparents, Milo Masoničić, Montenegro, 2018 |