Rirkrit Tiravanija, Demonstration Drawings at the Drawing Center

by Art Fag City on September 12, 2008 · 8 comments

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Rirkrit Tiravanija, untitled (demonstration no. 145), 2007. Graphite on paper, 8 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches. Collection of Craig Robins, Miami, FL. Image via: The Drawing Center

You don’t have to be a fan of realist drawing to like Rirkrit Tiravanija’s show at the Drawing Center, but it doesn’t hurt either. Over 200 works on paper depict people protesting and are rendered with a stylistic sameness, a likely necessity as they were all produced from publication in the International Herald Tribune. Outsourced to a variety of Thai artists, many of whom were Tiravanija’s students, the drawings literalize the collective action they depict. A few exceptionally crappy shots from the opening below.

Also, although I don’t have time to discuss it today, Kathleen Henderson’s creepy ink works across the street in the exhibition What if I Could Draw A Bird That Could Change The World are excellent.

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Installation shot from Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Demonstration Drawings at the Drawing Center, Photograph AFC

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Installation shot from Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Demonstration Drawings at the Drawing Center, Photograph AFC

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Rirkrit Tiravanija and Drawing Center curator João Ribas, at last night’s reception. Thanks to the Drawing Center’s Lisa Gold, who provided a replacement for the awful shot I originally posted!

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  • Anon

    I had read of this project before and it seemed exploitative. Of course, regardless of the “collaborative” and political nature of the project, it’s Tiravanija who gets the check, and the do-gooder kudos. Anyway, all of the preceeding statements were pleasantly dissipated when viewing the show, a subtle, powerful and exhibition.

  • Anon

    I had read of this project before and it seemed exploitative. Of course, regardless of the “collaborative” and political nature of the project, it’s Tiravanija who gets the check, and the do-gooder kudos. Anyway, all of the preceeding statements were pleasantly dissipated when viewing the show, a subtle, powerful and exhibition.

  • Art Fag City

    You know, I worried about the same thing like you, I thought differently after seeing the show.

  • Art Fag City

    You know, I worried about the same thing like you, I thought differently after seeing the show.

  • Jacob

    The drawings are based on photographs FROM the International Herald Tribune not FOR the newspaper.

    Also – just because something is made by someone else (Thai or otherwise) rather than the ‘artist’ doesn’t mean it’s exploitive.

  • Jacob

    The drawings are based on photographs FROM the International Herald Tribune not FOR the newspaper.

    Also – just because something is made by someone else (Thai or otherwise) rather than the ‘artist’ doesn’t mean it’s exploitive.

  • Art Fag City

    Thanks for letting me know Jacob. I’m not sure why your comment takes such a haughty tone.

  • Art Fag City

    Thanks for letting me know Jacob. I’m not sure why your comment takes such a haughty tone.

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