This Oc tober 17th\, VIVO Media Arts Centre will premier new works by Marina Roy an d Abbas Akhavan. For most Vancouverites\, the transformation of domestic sp ace and its discontents are a fact of life. But for Roy and Akhavan some of the radical changes and debates in this city over housing have proved insp irational and activating. Since 2000 they have worked together as friends a nd collaborators. Although the two have very different visual styles they s hare an interest in domestic life\, urban space\, and the ever changing rel ationship between humans and the natural world.
2 years in the making \, Apartment by Marina Roy is an expansive animation loosely inspired by Ge orges Perec's 1978 novel La Vie Mode D'emploi\, in which the author takes u s through each room of an apartment building in Paris\, following the patte rn of the knight's move in chess. Roy\, like Perec uses this structure to w eave together intersecting images of indulgence and dreaming\, chaos\, illn ess\, and transgression. Wild plants and animals take over the slowly deter iorating rooms as the residents\, and indeed the whole space\, seem to succ umb to a mysterious virus.
Born in Tehran\, Iran\, and residing in Ca nada for the last thirteen years\, Abbas Akhavan is fascinated by the ways domestic objects can suggest violent acts or become tools for exerting powe r. After many hours of assisting in the animation of Apartment\, Akhavan de veloped a sculpture that physicalizes the two artists shared interest in th e metaphoric significance of plant life. His piece simultaneously protects the gallery and Roy's work and confronts visitors with a challenge. Akhavan 's aesthetic economy may contrast visually with Roy's lush visual style\, b ut his piece also speaks of the multifaceted domestic realm.
Curated by Joni Murphy and Kika Thorne. OCTOBER 17 - NOVEMBER 5 2008 | TUES - SAT N OON - 6PM.
This exhibition is generously supported by friends\, v
olunteers\, the Canada Council for the Arts\, the BC Arts Council\, the Gov
ernment of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver\, the UBC Hampton Fun
d Research Grant\, JWMHP.
http://vivomediaarts.com