Humanity versus nature explored in new international exhibition at the Govett-Brewster
Bloom: mutation, toxicity and the sublime is a major international exhibition of contemporary art, the latest in a
series of exhibitions at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery that examine artists’ responses to topical developments in
contemporary culture.
The exhibition, opening 13 December, explores compelling and at times disturbing issues of environmental change
resulting from scientific progress.
“Bloom features an array of leading contemporary artists who respond to ethical issues resulting from scientific
manipulation of the natural environment,” said Gallery Director Greg Burke.
On one hand the exhibition draws on current anxieties such as the emergence of new diseases; the release of toxins into
the environment; and global warming with its associated fears of altered eco systems, hurricanes, floods and rising sea
levels. However, the artists approach these subjects more from a philosophical angle than a moralistic one and some
works will provoke strong debate.
“The artists explore a range of views on the recent impacts of science on the environment, therefore the exhibition will
encourage debate around the pros and cons of developments such as genetic manipulation,” said Mr Burke.
The issue of environmental exploitation and destruction is explored by a number of artists including Japanese/Vietnamese
artist Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba. His work Memorial Project Minimata: neither either nor neither – a love story refers
specifically to the industrial dumping of tons of mercury compounds in Japan’s Minamata Bay since the 1930s.
The Japanese Government officially recognises that 1,435 people have died as a result of the dumpings and 20,000 people
have registered as victims of mercury poisoning. The hauntingly beautiful video installation also refers to the use of
Agent Orange, the code name for a herbicide developed for the military and used in the Vietnam War. Health concerns over
Agent Orange surround its by product, a chemical that lab tests suggest is harmful.
“Eduardo Kac is a Brazilian artist who also raises questions about the ethics of controlling our environment through
science and information technology by making works involving genetic mutation,” said Mr Burke.
Kac’s work Genesis explores the relationship between biology, belief systems, information technology, ethics, and the
Internet.
The key element of the work is an "artist's gene", a synthetic gene created by translating a sentence from the biblical
book of Genesis into Morse code, and converting the Morse code into DNA base pairs. The sentence reads "Let man have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."
“Like many works in the show Genesis questions age old assumptions regarding humanity’s supremacy over nature,” said Mr
Burke.
Many of the works are very beautiful drawing on a tradition in art, literature and pop culture of a fascination with
nature, its power and its association with the monstrous. There are echoes in the exhibition of the paintings of
Hieronymous Bosch and Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein. The catalogue also refers to popular culture and the
ongoing interest in mutation evident in such films as Matrix and X Men and asks the question as to why the “monstrous”
continues to be so fascinating.
Kac’s work was featured in the 2001 Yokohama Triennale while Hatsushiba’s work comes to the Gallery direct from this
year’s Venice Biennale, as does the work of Japanese artist Motohiko Odani and Australian artist Patricia Piccinini.
Many other works have been shown at prestigious international venues such as Saskia Olde Wolbers work Interloper, which
won first prize at this year’s Basel Art Fair in Switzerland. The exhibition includes work by three New Zealand artists
- Boyd Webb, Denise Kum and David Hatcher, reflecting the Gallery’s commitment to presenting New Zealand contemporary
art in an international context.
The exhibition is one of a series that has included Drive: power, progress, desire 2000; Feature: art, life and cinema
2001; Extended play: art remixing music 2003 and Arcadia: the other life of video games 2003.
The exhibition has been curated by Gallery Director Gregory Burke and features many major names in international
contemporary art, such as Hany Armanious (AU), Christine Borland (UK) Tamami Hitsuda (JP), Eduardo Kac (BR/US), Jun
Nguyen-Hatsushiba (VN/JP), Susan Norrie (AU), Motohiko Odani (JP), Saskia Olde Wolbers (NL), Patricia Piccinini (AU) and
Magnus Wallin (SE).
The Gallery’s Sunday Specials programme includes presentations on Mâori views on genetic engineering and environmental
issues facing the Taranaki region.
Bloom: mutation, toxicity and the sublime December 13 2003 - 26 February 2004