Untitled - EMAF

AUSSTELLUNG // EXHIBITION
A single piece of rope (with black sections) is pulled through a system of pulleys, mounted on all four walls, ceiling and floor of a
room. When the rope is pulled completely through the system of pulleys, the black sections line up and an image of a chair is formed.
This work's apparent subject is drawing in a three-dimensional space. It employs the artists' familiar strategies of performance within
a minimalist structure, and the final reveal as a visual joke.
But ›66.86‹ further extends Wood and Harrison's investigation into the relation between temporal ›length‹ (duration) and distance
(two-dimensional ›length‹). The work takes its title from the length of the rope, a dimension which is none the less hidden, and is revealed
only through the work's duration - the length of time it takes to pull that metreage of rope through a pulley system. In this way the work
explores the four dimensions of the space and time in which it is played out. It is, in fact, a drawing which is conceived and takes place in
four dimensions.
Since they began collaborating in 1993, John Wood and Paul Harrison have accumulated a series of playful and beguiling video works
which are distinguished as much by their droll sense of humour as their unerring economy of execution. Played out against a minimalist,
monochrome backdrop, or within the sealed-off space of the monitor itself, each of the works involves the presence of one of the artists,
either as the butt of an extended sight-gag or as the trigger for a spiralling, visually surprising conceit.
John Wood, *1969, and Paul Harrison, * 1966 (GB), have been making collaborative video work since 1993. Their practice
operates across the realms of performance, sculpture, installation and dance, and simultaneously alludes to the worlds of the comic and
the cartoon. At the same time, their work essentially becomes research; their specialisation is the size, scale and movement of the body in
relation to architectural environments, which the artists typically construct themselves. Their works are part of major collections like
Museum of Modern Art, New York (USA); Tate Gallery (GB); Arts Council Collection (GB); British Council Collection; Centre Pompidou (F);
New Art Gallery, Walsall or MIMA, Middlesbrough (GB). Wood & Harrison had screenings at festivals and museums in Paris, London,
Berlin, Vienna, Tokyo, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Sydney and other cities.
Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2006 Museum Ludwig, Budapest (H); ICA MAINE (USA); High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia (USA);
2005 Ffoto gallery, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardif (GB); f a projects, London (GB); Galerie Priestor for Contemporary Art,
Bratislava (SK);
2004 Institute of Modern Art, Middlesbrough (GB); Galerie Markus Richter, Berlin (D); Tate Britain, London (GB);
2002 Chisenhale Gallery, London (GB);
Selected Group Exhibitions
2005 Supernova, Bunkier Sztuki, Krakow (PL) and and touring; CCA Wattis Institute, San Francisco (USA); Miami Art
Central (USA); The Bronx Museum, New York (USA);
2004 Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, Berlin (D) The Museum of Modern Art New York (USA); Ecole Nationale
Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris (F); Fri Arts, Fribourg (CH);
2003 Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (Aus); MIT Visual Arts Center, Boston (USA) Tate Britain,
London (GB); Bienal de Jafre (E);
2002 Gwangju Biennale (Korea); British Council Touring Exhibition, South America; Ecole Superieure des Beaux-Arts,
Le Mans (F); Pavel-House, Laafield (A); Schauspielhaus Vienna (A);
2001 Susquahana Art Museum (USA);
2000 Stills Gallery, Edinburgh (GB); Gallery, Southampton (GB);
1999 TV Gallery, Moscow (RU); Sala Mendosa, Museo Carillo (Venezuela); Gil, Mexico; Contemporary Art Museum,
Hawaii (USA);
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