{"id":30558,"date":"2015-10-11T17:50:39","date_gmt":"2015-10-11T21:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/?p=30558"},"modified":"2015-11-01T13:04:18","modified_gmt":"2015-11-01T18:04:18","slug":"rhonda-weppler-trevor-mahovsky-the-visitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.artoronto.ca\/?p=30558","title":{"rendered":"Rhonda Weppler + Trevor Mahovsky: The Visitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

What an odd sight it is to see worn-down fences in an established gallery, like the Pari Nadimi Gallery in Niagara Street. The fences are part of Rhonda Weppler’s and Trevor Mahovsky’s solo exhibition. While perhaps ‘solo’ is not the most fitting word, they are, in fact, a duo.\u00a0The Visitation<\/em>\u00a0is an extension of the duo’s previous installation,\u00a0Bad Neighbor.\u00a0<\/em>Visitation\u00a0<\/em>initially deceives the eye: the front reveals nothing about its actual materiality. The front is characterized by density, weight, and a sense of protection. It is two pieces of fencing situated in a V formation, with a dresser, pieces of panels, moths, and cat shaped wood placed on and around the fences.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Visitation, 2014 – 2015, Oak, fir, pine, birch and exotic wood veneers given patina with vinegar solution, resin, 5\u20194\u201d H x 9\u2019L x 11\u2019W. Installation view, Pari Nadimi Gallery.\u00a0Courtesy of Pari Nadimi Gallery<\/p>\n

However, it is surprising how much\u00a0Visitation\u00a0<\/em>changes once you walk around to the back. The density, the weight, and the nostalgic quality all disappears. From the back, the viewer sees that the sculpture is made from very thin wooden veneers. All the components from the front (dresser, moths, scratches, etc.) are revealed to be part of the fences. It is all one piece. The dresser is connected to the fence and empty in the back \u2013 same for the moths – as if they have surfaced from the fence. The entire backside is also coated with a clear resin that looks and drips disturbingly organic \u2013 similar to the goo from Ridley Scott’s “Alien”.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Visitation 2014 – 2015, Oak, fir, pine, birch and exotic wood veneers given patina with vinegar solution, resin, 5\u20194\u201d H x 9\u2019L x 11\u2019W (detail). Installation view, Pari Nadimi Gallery.\u00a0Courtesy of Pari Nadimi Gallery<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Visitation, 2014 – 2015, Oak, fir, pine, birch and exotic wood veneers given patina with vinegar solution, resin, 5\u20194\u201d H x 9\u2019L x 11\u2019W. Installation view, Pari Nadimi Gallery.\u00a0Courtesy of Pari Nadimi Gallery<\/p>\n

Visitation <\/em>is in a constant state of instability. This highly constructed, highly intentional structure looks like it could collapse any minute, but it never does. The relationship between Visitation <\/em>and “From Whichever Side One Approaches Things” announces that the curation itself is highly intentional as well. The installation nudges the viewer to move around and interact with the space.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>From whichever side one approaches things, 2014, walnut veneer, resin, 71.5\u201d h x 4.5\u201d w x 1.5\u201d (detail).\u00a0Courtesy of Pari Nadimi Gallery<\/p>\n

Also in the exhibition are “Snug Fit” and “Island”, <\/em>as well some photographs from the duo’s \u201cMonkey’s Raincoat\u201d Series. Weppler and Mahovsky questions materiality in this subtle installation, and tells us that if we search hard enough, we might just find the solution.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Snug fit, 2015, infused aluminum print (proprietary commercial printing system and readymade size), 24\u201d diameter. Courtesy of Pari Nadimi Gallery<\/p>\n

Sunny Kim<\/p>\n

*Exhibition information: September 17 – October 31, 2015,\u00a0Pari Nadimi Gallery, 254 Niagara Street, Toronto. Gallery hours: Wed \u2013 Sat, 12 \u2013 5 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Sunny Kim<\/strong><\/p>\n

The installation nudges the viewer to move around and interact with the space.<\/p>\n

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