Paint it white. Barend De Wet at blank projects
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A White Elephant is a term originating in South East Asia (Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Etc), where it was a sacred animal, having something to do with Buddha's mother. The rare pachyderm was considered a blessing and a curse when given as a gift: a blessing because of it's sacred nature, but a curse because it couldn't be used. Like most art.Barend De Wet's show at blank projects, titled White Elephant plays on this. In the space is a life-size sculpture of Barend, piel and all, painted (you guessed it) white. Arranged on podiums were some recently outdated technologies, an old Mac computer, painted white and a Sony Camera painted... white. So, while I enjoyed this comparison of a white man to an obsolete technology, something invented, constructed and then abandoned, it only held my attention for a minute. I felt a little uncomfortable with the sacredness that the title implies, even if it was meant ironically. Irony can be, like behind electric fences, a good place for whiteys to hide.
Still, the highlight of the show was Barend himself, who has the best tattoos. His presence made the show ok.
posted by Robert Sloon at 1:20 PM
6 Comments:
beautiful beautiful writing
The White Elephant represents burden. Is De Wet not talking about how things (digital stuff like his Mac and camera) become obsolete yet we still hang onto them? And he places himself amongst these items inferring that he too is obsolete. A burden we now have to carry? This is more art about life versus just art about art.
it's beautiful beautiful how this man has spent decades covering his body with marks and then presents himself as blank at blank by painting himself white
this is hogwash
wishwash vs backwash
is robert sloon still alive?
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