OPENING 20 APRIL, 5—9 PM
21 APRIL—24 APRIL, 2—6 PM
2 RUE GUILLAUME STOCQ, 1050 BRUSSELS

Featuring: Bruce Nauman

The Embassy is pleased to announce its inaugural exhibition by American artist Bruce Nauman, which will be on view April 21–24th, 2016 to coincide with Art Brussels and Independent Brussels. Though Nauman’s significance arose in the 1960s, half a century later the artist remains a seminal force in art. The True Artist brings together four of his early conceptual film pieces in a rare solo presentation of the artist in Belgium, shown in the setting of a private residence.

Upon entering the space, viewers are enveloped by rhythmic flashes and irregular, lapping staccato schema. Monolithic televisions spread across the rooms to display four black-and-white single-channel works by Nauman. The early film explorations, Wall/Floor Positions, Bouncing in the Corner No 1, Revolving Upside Down, and Flesh to White to Black to Flesh, were all created in 1968 and focus on repeated sequences, corresponding to each title. Through the films, Nauman explores a futile attempt at mechanizing his body and testing the human endurance.

Loosely influenced by the choreography of Merce Cunningham and minimalist compositions of John Cage, this period marks Nauman’s departure from sculpture into Conceptual video, which he pioneered throughout his career. Nauman’s desire to use his body to explore the basic act of creation coincided with his emergence as a professional artist, validating the tenacity it required. The works are an hour each, and intended to be a continuous loop, where viewers are encouraged to come and go freely.