Not Alone
Stephen Friedman Gallery
25-28 Old Burlington Street, London
Private view: September 3rd, 2015, 6-8pm
September 4th – October 2nd, 2015
The Stephen Friedman Gallery is putting together an ambitious exhibition by the talented artist, Jennifer Rubell. The exhibition, Not Alone, will be shown in two gallery spaces on September 4th with a private viewing the day before. It will feature an assortment of interactive sculptures, food performance, films, and paintings.
This ambitious series exhibition was conceived three years after the birth of Rubell’s second child. As a result, Rubell draws parallels to between the creative process of art-making and the raw and endearing emotions of motherhood into her exhibition. The American artists invites her audience to engage with the objects of her long-time project.
In the first gallery space, audiences can view the piece, entitled ‘Us’, which shows a hand-blown glass, sculpture of a newborn baby. Visitors can interact with the piece by passing the glass baby from one visitor to another. In the following space is, ‘Forever, which is another interactive installation which prompts a more silent meditation on parenthood and solitude.
The next space in the first gallery shows a food performance by Jennifer, which is a widely-recognized practice of hers. The piece entitled, ‘Them’, allows the audience to indulge in hard-boiled with salt and pepper from the artists personal stash.
In the second gallery space, there are a number of film series and portrait installations. The first an equestrian portrait attributed to the fictional painter, ‘Brad Jones’. The portrait is a collaboration with Brandi Twilley, which came together after Rubell posed nude for Twilley three times a week in her studio. Another part of the ‘Brad Jones’ portrait series is the film installation, ‘Posing’, which invites visitors to a private room where they can undress and then stand nude next to the film of Rubell sitting nude on a horse.
This is Jennifer Rubell’s most wide-ranging and interactive exhibition yet. While putting some of its visitors in an uncomfortable position at time, the Not Alone exhibition definitely engages its audience in an unforgettable experience.
