Projects 1999

Patientia is a project with three elements, each depending on the other: an exhibition, a symposium and a publication. Its aim is to investigate whether there is a homosexual aesthetics. Patientia will focus on three themes: Narcissism, Solitude, Jouissance. The title Patientia refers to a curatorial essay, sketching a historical context for these issues, which will appear in the planned publication.

Participating artists:

Aurora Reinhard
Hayley Newman
Josiah McElheny
Kendell Geers
Andy Warhol


The exhibition patientia concerns questions on homosexual aesthetics. Is there any? And in such case how does it then apear? Is there a specific way of expressing, within the fine arts, generated from a gaze related to a sexual preference? The exhibiton also suggests the question whether aesthetics passes borders between gen der and sexual preference.

During the research period many artists has asked whether their sexual preference had any significance in my choosing them, and my answerwas a definite no. What the artist present at Drottninggatan 81 A in Stockholm have in common, is something that could be described as a hyper-sensibility.What is the irigin of that? During a conversation with Hayley Newman the issue surfacedwhether a person who lives under hard outside pressure also is forced tojudge, with a distinctive perceptiveness, what is possible to express in public and in what manner it might be done.

Hayley Newmans piece Sucksniffdribblescratch is performed by four different women. Every day actions such as spitting, cooking, scratching and thinking is visualised.The performances twist the ordinary , twist andsimplifies. They are performed in different parts of the apartment, in the kitchen, in the bathroom and the cloakroom.

Kendell Geers´ shows the piece Silent Night in the library, which is computerized and presented on a display. Abusive expressions for race and sexual preference flickers by.

Aurora Reinhard shows a series of photographs without a title in the dining room, portraits of youth photographed during the summer 1999. The persons resemble each other to the extent that their respective gender is difficult to determine.

Josiah McElheny shows the piece Scandinavian Modern. Josiah collaborated toghether with Jan Erik Ritzman of Transjö Hytta, to produce replicas of Scandinavian 20-century glass. Contrary to the original pieces, which were clear crystal, Josiah's versions are opaque white. The pieces are shown on a designed shelve system, a replica of a display used at the Milano Trienale 1958.

Andy Warhol's 16 mm film Steep from 1963, is shown in the bedroom. The film's duration is a bit more than five hours. During its premier at The Gramarcy Art Theatre January 17, 1964 Steep was shown accompanied by light radio music.

The Seminar

PATIENTIA: A seminar on homosexual aesthetics
21 November, kl. 1 3.00 Hörsalen, Art Academy (Konstakademien), Stockholm

Participants:
Hayley Newman (London)
Aurora Reinhard (Helsinki)
Josiah McElheny (NewYork)

Lecturers:
David Rimanelli (Critic, Artforum)
Jonas Gardell ( Author)

patientia is a collaboration between Jan Hietala and NIFCA - The Nordic Institute for
Contemporary Art. NIFCA - The Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art is the main funder.

The seminar is produced and financed in collaboration with IASPIS - International Artists" Studio Program in Sweden.

Initiated by: NIFCA, in discussion with the artist Jan Hietala
Project curator: Jan Hietala (SE), artist, curator
Person responsible at NIFCA: Per Gunnar Tverbakk

Aurora Reinhard's participation has been made possible with support from FRAME - The Finnish Fund for Art Exchange.

Assistant curator: Caroline von Hove
Lightning: Thespis Light ab
Legal counsellor: Juristfirma Olof Toren
Assistants: Allen Grubesic, Camilla Akraka, Monica Larsen-Dennis,
Johanna Gustavsson-Furst, Kristoffer Nilson & Sara Lunden
Film projection: Hinden Lannaateljeerna ab