SCI-FI + FANTASY; MUD, SALT CRYSTALS, ROCKS, WATER; WIND; ROTATION; REVOLUTION
This exhibition was conceived in close relation to Dave Hullfish Bailey’s recently published artist book, What’s Left (Sternberg Press, Berlin and Casco, Utrecht, 2009).
In response to the diverse research collected in the book, Bailey presented a series of photographic images that document the self-organized, open-air library of so-called Slab City, a squatters’ camp located on an abandoned military base in California’s southern desert.
Alongside these images he included selected pieces of new research, a text-based slide projection, and a collection of sculptural objects, some of which were created in situ out of materials discarded by local Berlin libraries.
Together, these elements proposed a chain of connections which are rooted in concrete details of location, yet are at the same time highly speculative. By linking these official and unofficial collections of books with each other and with the exhibition and publication site — the gallery is located adjacent to the former Karl Marx bookstore which was founded in the GDR and today is the office of Sternberg Press — Bailey frames questions about the social spaces of learning, and the possibly asocial reasons for reading.
Sci-fi + Fantasy; Mud, Salt Crystals, Rocks, Water; Wind; Rotation; Revolution Installation view at Krome Gallery, Berlin
Document Shredder (reading device for a dark and wind-wracked place / fifth proto-type) 2010, Pencil on plywood, steel, aluminum, cable ties, film canister, magnets, copper wire, red LED bulbs 42 x 102 x 44 cm / 16,5 x 40 x 17,3 in
Failed attempt to induce an impulse; attempt to induce a failed impulse 2010, Film canister, magnets, copper wire, diode, red LED bulb. 12 x 7 x 6 cm / 4,7 x 2,8 x 2,4 in
Support structure for sorting it out alone (first version: Heinrich-Böll-Bibliothek, Prenzlauer Berg; Else-Ury-Bibliothek, Kreuzberg) 2010 , Salvaged materials, fasteners. 120 x 300 x 90 cm / 47,2 x 118 x 35,4 in
Untitled (rotation/revolution) 2010 , Research materials (laser prints), salvaged shelf, magnets . 50 x 79 x 3 cm / 19,7 x 31 x 1,2 in
Document Shredder (reading device for a dark and wind-wracked place / sixth proto-type)2010, Pencil on plywood, steel, aluminum, cable ties, film canister, magnets, copper wire, red LED bulbs, 73 x 60 x 20 cm / 28,7 x 23,6 x 7,9 in
Document Shredder (reading device for a dark and wind-wracked place / fourth proto-type)2010, Pencil on plywood, steel, aluminum, cable ties, film canister, magnets, copper wire, red LED bulbs, 101 x 42 x 6 cm / 39,8 x 16,5 x 2,4 in
Document Shredder (reading device for a dark and wind-wracked place / third proto-type)2010, Pencil on plywood, steel, aluminum, cable ties, film canister, magnets, copper wire, red LED bulbs, 90 x 100 x 17 cm / 35,4 x 39,4 x 6,7 in
Document Shredder (reading device for a dark and wind-wracked place / seventh prototype) 2010, Pencil on plywood, steel, aluminum, cable ties, film canister, magnets, copper wire, red LED bulbs, 60 x 73 x 73 cm / 23,6 x 28,7 x 28,7 in
Failed attempt to induce an impulse; attempt to induce a failed impulse2010, Film canister, magnets, copper wire, diode, red LED bulb 12 x 7 x 6 cm / 4,7 x 2,8 x 2,4 in
Support structure for sorting it out alone (first version: Heinrich-Böll-Bibliothek, Prenzlauer Berg; Else-Ury-Bibliothek, Kreuzberg)2010, Salvaged materials, fasteners, 120 x 300 x 90 cm / 47,2 x 118 x 35,4 in
Untitled (rotation/revolution)2010, Research materials (laser prints), salvaged shelf, magnets, 50 x 79 x 3 cm / 19,7 x 31 x 1,2 in
Untitled #15, from the series: Working approximation of a conventional form, re-determined by prevailing conditions 2007/2008 , 15 b/w laser prints. Each 19,5 x 19,5 cm / 7,7 x 7,7 in, framed 28 x 28 cm / 11 x 11 in Ed. 3 + 1 AP
Untitled #15, from the series: Working approximation of a conventional form, re-determined by prevailing conditions 2007/2008 , 15 b/w laser prints. Each 19,5 x 19,5 cm / 7,7 x 7,7 in, framed 28 x 28 cm / 11 x 11 in Ed. 3 + 1 AP
Untitled #15, from the series: Working approximation of a conventional form, re-determined by prevailing conditions 2007/2008 , 15 b/w laser prints. Each 19,5 x 19,5 cm / 7,7 x 7,7 in, framed 28 x 28 cm / 11 x 11 in Ed. 3 + 1 AP