Rodney Graham (1949-2022)
Was a master of blurring reality and fiction, known for transforming himself into various characters in his photographs, films, and sculptures. His conceptual work often explored the absurdity of life, using humor and elaborate staging to create surreal, thought-provoking scenes. This exhibition showcases the breadth of Graham’s practice from the last twenty-five years, highlighting his ability to move between photography, film, painting, and sculpture.
In Vexation Island (1997), Graham plays a castaway caught in a comical, endless loop, symbolizing the repetitive nature of human struggles. His photographic lightboxes, like Media Studies ‘77 (2016), continue this theme by casting him as an academic mid-lecture, surrounded by blank screens, suggesting the futility of knowledge. In Pipe Cleaner Artist, Amalfi, ‘61 (2013), he becomes a nostalgic artist, at peace in an imagined studio, capturing the timeless allure of creativity.
Graham’s characters often inspired tangible works. His Pipe Cleaner Artist Studio Constructions (2014-2015) and abstract paintings developed from props used in his lightboxes show his ability to expand his performances into full artistic explorations. His later paintings, including those influenced by Alexander Rodchenko, are complex studies of form and composition, further emphasizing the playful yet precise nature of his artistic vision.
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Gallery:
@303gallery
Artist: Rodney Graham
Photography:
@gaart_co
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