Fabricator
Since the 1980s Richard Deacon has played a prominent role in contemporary visual arts. He refers to himself as a fabricator, someone who wants to test the resilience of materials, language and the meaning of objects to the very limit. His fascination with the possibilities of the most diverse materials such as wood, textiles, steel, paper, leather, marble, clay, vinyl, corrugated iron, cardboard or PVC drives him from one work to the next, with an awe-inspiring oeuvre as a result. The glue, metal joints, bolts or joints are intentionally visible so that the spectator is constantly reminded of that creation process.
Variations
The exhibition primarily focuses on ‘variations’ – which could be seen as Deacon’s trademark. By once again applying a logical and consistent series of rules to the same basic or starting situation, the artist keeps on shifting a border and adding possible new interpretations, until he arrives at ‘new’ works of art which will then form part of a series. The title of the exhibition, SOME TIME, refers to its temporary character. Or to a short timeframe: things are what they are only for a short time.
The refabrication of Never Mind
In 1993 - Antwerp was the Cultural Capital of Europe - the Middelheim collection made a decisive step in the direction of contemporary art. Never Mind is one of the key works to be purchased that year. Twenty-four years later Deacon, in collaboration with the Middelheim Museum, moved towards a ‘refabrication’ of the work. Refabrication – also a form of variation – is at the same time a fresh start and a new perspective for the future, the return to or copy of an old element and the creation of a new work.
Language
Deacon attaches just as much importance to language as to the materiality of his works. Speech and language are an important characteristic of what makes us human. They are the instruments with which we give meaning to the world and the things around us. Meaning (the ‘what is it?’), and thus also the meaning of a work of art, is not a constant for Deacon, but something that must be actively created and built up, little by little and over and over again. And so it is something which lasts for ‘Some Time’.
On the occasion of the exhibition a limited edition 10-inch vinyl disc has been brought out, as has a publication with contributions by Gwynne Ryan, Henk Visch and Richard Deacon, Bart De Baere, Iris Kockelbergh and Sara Weyns.
About Richard Deacon
Richard Deacon (United Kingdom , °1949) uses London as his home base for an international career with solo exhibitions in Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany (2016), Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Switzerland (2015); Tate Britain, London, UK (2014); Sprengel Museum, Hannover, Germany (2011); Museum of the City of Strasbourg, France (2010); Portland Art Museum, Oregon, USA (2008); PS1 Contemporary Art Center, New York, USA (2001); MACCSI, Caracas, Venezuela (1996); Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, UK (1989) and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, USA (1988).
He represented Wales at the Venice Biennale (2007) and has participated in the Venice Architecture Biennale (2012), Glasgow International (2006) and documenta 9 in Kassel.
Richard Deacon won the prestigious Turner Prize in 1987 and the Robert Jakobsen Prize in 1995. In 1996 the French Ministry of Culture awarded him with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, and in 1999 he was proclamed a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
He is currently working on new exhibitions for China and Prague.
Practical information
Richard Deacon. SOME TIME
27 May – 24 September 2017
Opening times depending on the season
Price
Free
Extra with the exhibition
- Visitors’ text: free or download here (pdf)
- Introductory film: in the hall of the Castle
- Digital tour in the Antwerp Museum App
Free guided tour
- no reservation required
- Every 2nd Sunday of the month, from 2-4 pm (for adults and families with children from 6-12 years of age): 11/6, 9/7, 13/8, 10/9; every 3rd Thursday of the month (for adults), from 6-8 pm: 15/6, 20/7 and 17/8
Guided tours
For groups of adults
- 75 euro for 2 hours + 5 euros booking fee
- 15 people per guide, additional 2 hour creative workshop possible
- 03 232 01 03 - tickets@visitantwerpen.be
For children and young people in groups or as part of a school party
- 85 euro for 2 hours + 5 euros booking fee
- 12 children / 15 young people per guide, additional 2 hour creative workshop possible
- 03 232 01 03 - tickets@visitantwerpen.be
