neustetter exhibition catalogue

M A R C U S N E U S T E T T E R | B E T W E E N 22 July - 08 August 2012

The exhibition at the NIROXprojects space from 22 July – 08 August 2012 hosts a series of drawings, photographs and installations that reference the vertical gaze, the spaces in between and the artists’ intention of developing a structure of

observation in the Cradle of Humankind.

Installation view | Between | Marcus Neustetter | 2012

For artist Marcus Neustetter the ‘vertical gaze’ is an act of looking, be it up into the night sky and down into the layers of our earth. It is an act of sensitive and intensive observation that brings many answers and even more questions to the observer. These acts have led Neustetter in his artistic processes to working directly with archeologists and astronomers, observing them as they gain more complex understanding of time and space. Both practices look back in time and create recorded history. The elements of light traveling back, or objects buried beneath hold rich evidence to our past as well as point to our futures.

From an archeological perspective “The ‘stuff’ between/around artefacts of an archeological dig is called ‘matrix’. It is all part of the context, without which the ‘finds’ mean nothing. Rather like the silences/pauses between notes that give music its meaning.” Sven Ouzman

The space and stuff in-between is not an unknown entity but contains information one needs to make sense of what is in-situ. Therefore the spoil heap, debris or waste (left behind after sieving and sorting) continues to contain evidence that is important to understanding context and time. The act of digging never destroys but it does radically displace. Similarly debitage or waste flakes that are knocked off in the creation of a tool, indicate the process of conceptualizing and making the tool. The discarded elements, once studied reveal the negative space or space between to be as significant to the context as the object.

It is the displacement of the debris, the negative spaces and those elements, which lie between that interests Marcus Neustetter at this time.

The exhibition at the NIROXprojects space from 22 July – 08 August 2012 will host a series of drawings, photographs and installations that reference the vertical gaze, the spaces in between and the artists’ intention of developing a structure of observation in the Cradle ofHumankind.

Neustetter is developing structures of observation; the current locations of these structures vary from the astronomical observatory in Sutherland to the inner city of Johannesburg. His fascination is in the vertical gaze, both up to the stars and below the earth’s surface, has led him to yet another site, the land in the Cradle of Humankind. In this environment Neustetter is exploring a space of observation and contemplation, inspired by the rich layers of stromatolite rock formations, the many caves in the area and the pending possibility of discovering more of our human past. The process of development for the observation structure aims to co-exist with the archaeological excavations and explorations into the land, celebrating the richness of the site and stimulating intellectual discourse around the science of paleontology and the pursuit of art. Its presence in this space aims to pose a question; where do we exist between the astronomical mysteries and our archeological unknowns?

This project is closely linked to other sites, projects and partners that Neustetter has been working in art-science collaborations with. These include, to name a few, the South African Post Office with an artistic stamp series presenting South Africa’s Achievements in Astronomy, the International Office for Astronomical Development, South African Astronomical Observatory, SKA, University of the Witwatersrand, the Iziko Museum, the COSMOS exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, and various important archeological excavations such as Vella Spilla (Croatia) and the Fraserburg paleontological site (Karoo).

Vella Spilla cross section I-XIV (installation view) | Scratch-drawings produced with waste flakes at an archeological site in Vella Spilla, Croatia | 2012

Observation Study - between I-XXXV (installation view) | Pen on paper | Sizes variable | 2012

Vertical Alignment | Enamel on paper | 110 x 156 cm (unframed) | 2012

Cradle re-aligned II | Torn and reassembled Google earth trace re-aligned | Digital print on Innova Fiber paper| 59 x 59 cm | 2012

Vertical re-alignment (installation view detail) | Installation | Wood and enamel paint | 145 x 145 x 4 cm | 2012

Vertical Alignment (Installation view) | Between | Marcus Neustetter | 2012

Acknowledgements

Marcus Neustetter would like to thank The Nirox Foundation, Mark Read, Gallery AOP, Neil Nieuwoudt , Gareth van Honschooten, Tanya Sack, Charlotte Johnson and The Trinity Session.

For more information please contact:Marcus Neustetter +27 82 929 1569 [email protected] Neil Nieuwoudt +27 72 350 4326 [email protected]

Catalogue Production and Design: Neil Nieuwoudt

www.marcusneustetter.comwww.niroxarts.com

neustetter exhibition catalogue

Documents

archeological perspective

cave x perspective

fabriano paper edition

cave v perspective

cave xi perspective

artist marcus neustetter

installation view

vertical gaze