Margrethe Aanestad: Locus Mien
219 36th Street, Brooklyn, New York
August 27 – October 2, 2015
Opening: Thursday, August 27, 6-10pm
Open by appointment, email torranceshipmangallery@gmail.com
Site95 and Torrance Shipman Gallery are pleased to present “Locus Mien” a solo exhibition by Margrethe Aanestad.
The word “Locus” is defined as a place, a center, a source or locality. A starting point. “Mien” can be interpreted as an appearance or showing character. The hybrid title conveys the abstract and improvisational new body of work presented by Norway based artist Margrethe Aanestad. Locus Mien is the starting point in creating a site-specific exhibition inspired through the objects and atmosphere found and created in Torrance Shipman Gallery, New York.
Through the exploration of abstract and minimalist language, Aanestad investigates form, spatiality and materiality. In addition to painting and drawing, Aanestad uses a wide variety of discarded and found materials including: Styrofoam, cardboard, paper, textiles, wood, marble and stone, to create new work in both three and two-dimensional formats. These objects are collected through time and process as she explores new textures and substances. She activates these objects through their placement in space.
For her exhibition at Torrance Shipman Gallery, Aanestad seeks to explore the space and orchestrate components to reveal a sublime balance. Aanestad first approaches the space through observation as she works with the features of the room including light, atmosphere and content. She then responds to the space through the collection of materials and objects, eventually inspiring a new dialogue with the space. Materials, arrangements and compositions are derived from her experience, often allowing coincidences, fragments, layers and relationships between objects that open themselves in the process. It is between intent, intuition and chance that the installation is formed. The environment becomes a place for contemplation and silence, delivering a heightened awareness of materials, nuances and space.
Margrethe Aanestad (b. Stavanger, Norway 1974) is based in Stavanger and Brooklyn, NY. Recent solo exhibitions include Dimensions Variable, Miami and Open Source Gallery, New York (2013). Selected group exhibitions; Another Space, Copenhagen (2014); Interno4, Bologna, Italy (2013); Galería Des Pacio de la Cruz, San Jose, Costa Rica (2013); ISCP, New York (2012); Tokyo Graphic Passport, Tokyo, Japan (2011); the 124th Annual National Art Exhibition in Norway, Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo, Norway (2011). Currently, she is included in the exhibition at Tub Gallery, Miami and she will have an upcoming exhibition at Negativa Moderna, Gainesville, Florida. Additionally, Aanestad is working on a commission for British Petroleum Head Quarter in Norway and Studio 17, Stavanger, Norway. Aanestad is co-founder and co-curator of the artist run space Prosjektrom Normanns in Stavanger and is co-founder and co–owner of the co-working space Erfjorgata 8 in Stavanger.