Abbas Akhavan
Rochelle Goldberg
Disembody
November 30, 2024–January 25, 2025
The exhibition opens Saturday, November 30, 12–5pm.
Domestication is often understood as a long-term and mutualistic relationship in which one species provides care and security in exchange for a steady supply of resources from another. But the ways in which such a relationship redefines the other’s very nature—such as the genetic transformation of wolves into dogs—tends to leave the question of mutualism hanging in the air. In Disembody, Abbas Akhavan and Rochelle Goldberg approach this question by removing the human to consider what remains within the equation of domestic life.
In the form of a shepherd’s crook or hunter’s spear, a tree’s discarded limb becomes a human prosthetic, establishing nature as a continuum of our bodies and will. Perhaps more than any other object, the stick exemplifies this interrelationship. Akhavan’s IT (2024) comprises a dog’s fetching stick held aloft within a custom brass mold. But to whom does this stick belong? Frozen in the moment of selection when the driftwood became a gesture of play, this now permanent suspension hovers somewhere between withers height and arm’s length, held at a remove from teeth, tools, and tides alike.
Nearby, ten images of stone lions (also called fu dogs) resolve into two distinct figures, each photographed from the perimeter of a 180° semi-circle. There is a point within the overlapping arcs where both lions confront you head-on, their disfigured maws agape. It’s this stone snarl that not only reveals the remnants of canine incisors, but allows a view down the throat into the rough interior of the stone within. Disfiguration exposes the stone as it once was, before patient hands sculpted an animal seated in protective watch. We can guess at the intentions of the vandal as much as we can speculate as to what the lions are guarding—in both instances we draw from animal mythos to grasp human cultural signifiers, the spiritual deployment of lions, and the hateful displacement of pandemic-era fear. First through vandalism, and again through artistic dislocation, the craft of metaphor is waylaid by the reality of rock, which Akhavan rearranges in introspective alignment like a megalithic circle.
In Bright Lights (2024), Rochelle Goldberg suspends ten vanity mirrors above the gallery’s floor, their lights refracting theatrical shadows around the room. Adrift on their individual axes, the installation almost has the feeling of an oversized orrery. But lacking a sun or central orbit, each glaring bulb becomes its own burning star, and the viewer, in turn, gravitates around them. These too have been defaced, and instead of reflecting an actor’s gaze, the mirrors spotlight their surroundings. The multiplication of objects rather than images is uncanny: where there would be an illusionistic reflection of the gallery walls, there is only the actuality of architecture, portals to nowhere. Instead of finding a familiar face, one encounters closed canisters beneath each mirror. As aluminum casts, their propagation only furthers this logic of disembodiment: the absent body becoming more present the less it appears. What remains is a hall of mirrors where the viewer is confronted by an undoubled self.
Goldberg’s Composite Icons I and II (2024) offer some solace in the form of portraits rendered in dull silver, like molten mirrors pressed into illustrative relief. And yet, these fair effigies quickly give way to snakeskin coils, writhing beneath the partial configuration of the face. Is this what happens when Medusa gazes upon herself, whereby all humanness sublimates to an iconographic surface, while the body returns to inert material? Nearby, Akhavan’s If the first metaphor was animal (2024) gives a name to this operation. How can we know ourselves without an other to be known in relation to? What have we done to each other that we have not done to animals a hundred times over? With a bandage wrapped around a rhinoceros snout, the sculpture first portrays the absence of the creature’s distinctive horn, and then the absence of the rhino itself, leaving only the plaster dressing behind. But this absence is charged, immediately reminding us not only of the poached ivory, but of all the precious resources extracted to serve purposes of adornment and conspicuous consumption. Something throbs between the missing horn and the frozen stick. What differentiates tame animals from trophy beasts other than human desire? Goldberg’s Composite Icons remind us that this relationship is not only inter-species but intrinsic—that animal symbolism is fundamental to our knowledge of ourselves. We are already the other.
Throughout Disembody, the human recedes, leaving bestial traces behind. This is not to say that humanness is an elaboration, much less a transcendence, of the reductive animal. In fact, it is the opposite. What can we know of our animal kin that is not merely a projection of our own myths, values, and behaviours? The remnant objects that constitute this exhibition behave as amputated signifiers, disillusioned mirrors—where evidence of careful craft and machinic precision are found in equal measure, offering occasional glimpses of coarser material within. In these works we perceive the human body, made all the more visible through disembodiment: our use of tools and metaphors, the discipline of domestic rituals, and our dependence on creatures that are simultaneously subordinate and sacred.
Closed for installation
We are currently closed for installation, and will return with the opening of Abbas Akhavan and Rochelle Goldberg, Disembody, on Saturday, November 30, 12–5pm.
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Scout Magazine
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Arts Research Center, UC Berkeley
The Columbus Dispatch
Art News
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C Magazine
Hyperallergic
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Baltimore Museum of Art, USA
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Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia
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Blanton Museum of Art, Austin
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IRELAND
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Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin
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Newcity Art
Financial Times
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Artforum
Hyperallergic
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Forbes
KQED
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The New York Times
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Newcity Art
The Daily Californian
Chicago Tribune
34th Street
Art News
Abbas Akhavan
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UAE
Three Tired Tigers
November 2, 2024–March 16, 2025
Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai
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VANCOUVER
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November 30, 2024–January 25, 2025
Catriona Jeffries
One Hundred Years
September 5–December 7, 2025
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Elizabeth McIntosh
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Remai Modern, Saskatoon
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Sonya Kelliher-Combs
remnant
September 19–November 16, 2024
Brian Jungen
Flagpole
April 17, 2024–2025
Duane Linklater
cache
April 6–June 28, 2024
Andrea Carlson, Chukwudubem Ukaigwe, Eli Bornowsky
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February 1–March 16, 2024
Elizabeth McIntosh
Real Relationships
December 1, 2023–January 20, 2024
Ron Terada
BBQ Beer Freedom
September 28–November 18, 2023
Judy Radul, Andrew Yong Hoon Lee, Steven Cottingham
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September 15, 2023
Steven Cottingham
Chain–link
July 21, 2023
Brenda Draney
Unfinished Business
May 26–July 8, 2023
Damian Moppett
Half Life
March 24–May 6, 2023
Rebecca Brewer
Eidetic Cloud
January 27–March 11, 2023
Tanya Lukin Linklater
breath ,’ echo
November 12, 2022–January 7, 2023
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September 16–October 29, 2022
Janice Kerbel
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May 28–June 25, 2022
Valérie Blass, Laurie Kang, Christina Mackie, Liz Magor
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March 19–May 7, 2022
Brenda Draney, Tanya Lukin Linklater
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January 29–March 5, 2022
Raymond Boisjoly
🕸Some Number of Things🕸
November 6–December 18, 2021
Abbas Akhavan, Geoffrey Farmer, Rochelle Goldberg, Kapwani Kiwanga, Duane Linklater
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Sept 18–Oct 23, 2021
Charmian Johnson
May 29–July 3, 2021
Ian Wallace
In the Museum
April 10–May 22, 2021
Damian Moppett
Vignettes
February 13–March 27, 2021
Liz Magor
Downer
December 5, 2020–January 30, 2021
Duane Linklater
primaryuse
October 24–November 21, 2020
Elizabeth McIntosh
Mom or Mother
September 12–October 10, 2020
Valérie Blass
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May 23–June 27, 2020
Ashes Withyman
Some kind of doctor receiving thunder
February 8–March 14, 2020
Abbas Akhavan
They asked the fox, “Who is your witness?”
He said, “My tail.”
November 23, 2019–January 18, 2020
Christina Mackie
September 21–November 2, 2019
Rochelle Goldberg
May 25–July 20, 2019
gatekeepers
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February 9–May 11, 2019
Judy Radul
Words No Pictures Pictures No Words
May 11–June 16, 2018
Kasper Feyrer
Background Actors
March 16–April 21, 2018
Rebecca Brewer, Rochelle Goldberg, Charmian Johnson, Christina Mackie
Nature
January 26–March 3, 2018
Elizabeth McIntosh
ISLANDS
November 17–December 22, 2017
Ron Terada
TL; DR
September 15–October 28, 2017
Elizabeth McIntosh, Monique Mouton, Silke Otto-Knapp
May 26–July 8, 2017
Ian Wallace
Street Floor Table Page Wall Canvas, 1969–2017
March 31–May 13, 2017
Ashes Withyman
Bullae
March 10–18, 2017
Geoffrey Farmer
The Big Kitchen
January 14–February 25, 2017
Rebecca Brewer
The Holding Sky
November 12–December 17, 2016
Raymond Boisjoly
September 16–October 29, 2016
Damian Moppett
May 6–June 25, 2016
Liz Magor
March 5–April 23, 2016
Brian Jungen
January 22–February 27, 2016
Valérie Blass
To only ever say one thing forever the same thing
November 21, 2015–January 9, 2016
Janice Kerbel
Score
September 12–October 24, 2015
Liz Magor, Jerry Pethick, Ron Tran
A view believed to be yours
May 15–June 27, 2015
Myfanwy MacLeod
TELL HER NOTHING SHE TELLS ALL
March 21–May 2, 2015
Ian Wallace
The Construction Site
January 17–February 28, 2015
Duane Linklater
But the sun is up and you're going?
November 15–December 20, 2014
Ron Terada
Jack
September 19–October 25, 2014
Jerry Pethick
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May 24–June 28, 2014
Rebecca Brewer
The Written Face
March 29–May 10, 2014
Geoffrey Farmer
The Grass and the Banana go for a walk
February 8-March 15, 2014
Ashes Withyman
Household Temple Yard
November 26, 2013–January 11, 2014
Damian Moppett
Salute
September 20–November 2, 2013
Brian Jungen, Duane Linklater
Modest Livelihood
June 7–July 20, 2013
Andrea Büttner, Joëlle de La Casinière, Ashes Withyman
April 26–June 1, 2013
Raymond Boisjoly
March 1–April 13, 2013
Liz Magor
I is being This
November 16–December 22, 2012
Christina Mackie, Jerry Pethick
Bigger than a book, wilder than a tree
September 14–October 27, 2012
Judy Radul
April 27–June 9, 2012
Kasper Feyrer
Alternatives and Opportunities
March 2–April 14, 2012
Ian Wallace
Masculin/Féminin
January 13–February 18, 2012
Ulla von Brandenburg, Guy de Cointet, Geoffrey Farmer, Janice Kerbel, Daria Martin, Judy Radul
People Things Enter Exit
October 28–December 10, 2011
Ron Terada
Jack
September 3–October 8, 2011
Robert Kleyn
Works 1969–1983
May 20–June 25, 2011
Arabella Campbell
March 25–April 30, 2011
Alex Morrison
February 3–March 12, 2011
Brian Jungen
November 19, 2010–January 15, 2011
Kevin Schmidt
September 17–October 23, 2010
Damian Moppett
The Sculptor’s Studio is a Painting
May 21–June 26, 2010
Geoffrey Farmer
The Surgeon and the Photographer
January 29-March 6, 2010
Myfanwy MacLeod
Gold
November 6–December 12, 2009
Ian Wallace
Works 1970–1979
September 18–October 24, 2009
Brian Jungen, Rebecca Belmore, Myfanwy MacLeod, Kevin Schmidt, Alex Morrison, Sam Durant, Ron Terada, Geoffrey Farmer, Jin-me Yoon
Loaded
May 15–June 20, 2009
Christos Dikeakos
March 26–April 25, 2009
Ashes Withyman
Uncertain Pilgrimage
January 15–February 14, 2009
Jin-me Yoon
October 30–November 29, 2008
Jerry Pethick
September 12–October 11, 2008
Ron Terada
May 23–June 28, 2008
Germaine Koh
April 11–May 10, 2008
Roy Kiyooka, Damian Moppett, Jerry Pethick, Ian Wallace
Process as Work
February 29–March 29, 2008
Kelly Wood, Monika Grzymala
January 18–February 16, 2008
Alex Morrison
November 23–December 22, 2007
Ian Wallace
October 18–November 17, 2007
Judy Radul
September 7–October 6, 2007
Arabella Campbell
June 8–July 7, 2007
Brian Jungen
April 27–May 26, 2007
Sam Durant
Scenes from the Pilgrim Story: Natural History
March 16–April 14, 2007
Damian Moppett
Progress in Advance of the Fall
January 19–February 24, 2007
Isabelle Pauwels
November 25–December 22, 2006
Geoffrey Farmer
Airliner Open Studio
October 21–November 18, 2006
Kevin Schmidt
September 9–October 7, 2006
Ashes Withyman, Jacob Gleeson
St. George Marsh
August 24–September 1, 2006
Christos Dikeakos, Geoffrey Farmer, Arni Haraldsson, Brian Jungen, Roy Kiyooka, Germaine Koh, Myfanwy MacLeod, Damian Moppett, Isabelle Pauwels, Jerry Pethick, Judy Radul, Kevin Schmidt, Ron Terada, Ian Wallace, Jin-me Yoon
274 East 1st
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Christos Dikeakos
November 25, 2005–January 16, 2006
Alex Morrison, Isabelle Pauwels, Frances Stark, Johannes Wohnseifer
And to stop you interfering, I shall have to dematerialize you again
October 13–November 19, 2005
Geoffrey Farmer, Brian Jungen, Germaine Koh, Myfanwy MacLeod, Damian Moppett, Alex Morrison, Ron Terada, Ian Wallace, Kelly Wood
Mix with care
July 5–September 24, 2005
Ron Terada
May 20–June 25, 2005
Arabella Campbell, Neil Campbell, Ron Terada, Ian Wallace
Painting After Poverty
April 8–May 14, 2005
Sam Durant
Color Pictures
February 25–March 2, 2005
Germaine Koh
Shell
January 14–February 19, 2005
Roy Kiyooka
Open Window on a Slow Train
December 2004
Jin-me Yoon
Fugitive
October 22–November 27, 2004
Myfanwy MacLeod
Don’t Stop Dreaming
September 10–October 16, 2004
Artist Curating Artists:
Damian Moppett curates Allison Hrabluik and Zin Taylor
May 28–June 26, 2004
Geoffrey Farmer
Every Surface In Some Way Decorated, Altered or Changed Forever (Except the Float)
April 7–May 15, 2004
Artist Curating Artists:
Myfanwy MacLeod curates Kyla Mallett
February 11–March 13, 2004
Damian Moppett
1815/1962
October 30–December 6, 2003
Carsten Höller, Cameron Jamie, Jakob Kolding, Myfanwy MacLeod, Kyla Mallett, Valérie Mréjen, Isabelle Pauwels, Raymond Pettibon, Ron Terada, Lawrence Weiner, Erwin Wurm
Seethe
September 10–October 25, 2003
Iain Baxter, Geoffrey Farmer, Roy Kiyooka, Germaine Koh, Myfanwy MacLeod, Ron Terada
I Sell Security
May 29–August 16, 2003
Kelly Wood
Black Plastic
April 11–May 17, 2003
Ian Wallace
February 28–April 5, 2003
Alex Morrison
Housewrecker
January 17–February 22, 2003
Allyson Clay
November 29–December 21, 2002
Ron Terada
September 6–October 12, 2002
Germaine Koh, Alex Morrison, N.E. Thing Co., Ron Terada, Ian Wallace
Signage
June 8–August 31, 2002
Christos Dikeakos
March 21–April 20, 2002
Germaine Koh
March 8–April 13, 2002
Brian Jungen
February 1–March 2, 2002
Geoffrey Farmer
Catriona Jeffries Catriona
September 9–October 9, 2001
Myfanwy MacLeod
Miss Moonshine
September 7–October 6, 2001
Geoffrey Farmer, Germaine Koh, Myfanwy MacLeod, Damian Moppett, Ron Terada, Jin-me Yoon, Kelly Wood
Supernatural Fairytales (Pink Island)
June 8–August 25, 2001
Ian Wallace
My Heroes in the Street
March 9–April 14, 2001
Jerry Pethick
Traverse
February 19–March 3, 2001
Roy Kiyooka
Filmic Works 1978–1980
November 30–December 21, 2000
Arni Haraldsson
Jerusalem
September 8–October 14, 2000
Iain Baxter
Vacuum Forms
April 27–June 3, 2000
Damian Moppett
Impure Systems
February 4–March 11, 2000
Ron Terada
Jeopardy Paintings
November 1999
Ian Wallace
Street Works 1969–1995
Part I: 1980–1982, March 1999. Part II: 1969–1999, April–May 1999
Ian Wallace
Chopaka
April 1997
Jerry Pethick
Gobi Clone
March 1997
