Of Other Spaces

A group exhibition probing the impact physical space has on social behavior.

Curated by James Voorhies

Columbus College of Art & Design, OH
February 25–April 25, 2009

Mary Jo Bole, Michael Brown, Alain Bublex, Robert Buck, Gregory Crewdson, Dan Graham, Candida Höfer, Guillaume Leblon, Laura Lisbon, Gordon Matta-Clark, Eva Meyer and Eran Schaerf, Laurent Montaron, Maryléne Negro, TJ Norris and Scott Wayne Indiana, Sarah Schönfeld, Maya Schweizer, Suzanne Silver, Christian Tomaszewski, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Jane and Louise Wilson

Made possible with funding and staff of Columbus College of Art & Design with grants from Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Ohio Arts Council, and a Curatorial Research Grant from Etant donnés: The French-American Fund for Contemporary Art; realized within my responsibilities as Director of Exhibitions at Columbus College of Art & Design

The concept of “other spaces” was inspired by the philosophy of Michel Foucault, especially his thoughts on social relations and cultural practices expressed in the intersection of space, architecture, and history. In a then rarely cited 1967 text by Foucault, entitled Of Other Spaces, Heterotopias, he introduces what he callsheterotopias—different or other spaces.

Hospitals, prisons, schools, libraries, museums, fairgrounds, cinemas, beaches, cemeteries, gardens, hotel suites, train stations, and even mirrors have the potential to be other spaces. Other spaces are essentially virtual. They function in accordance with personal memories, associations, experiences, and imaginings that one has of these very real sites. By making common practices strange, Foucault’s writing often initiates conversations about habitual actions, in this case, in relation to space. The collection of works of art on exhibit here and the reprinting of Foucault’s text on “heterotopias” in the exhibition catalogue form the visual and philosophical catalyst for thinking about the function and meaning of space in everyday life.

This exhibition included a screening of She Might Belong to You (2007) by Eva Meyer and Eran Schaerf, Metropolis, Report from China (2006) by Maya Schweizer and Clemens von Wedemeyer, and Will there be a sea battle tomorrow? (2008) by Laurent Montaron at the film/video theater at Wexner Center for the Arts.

Book, Guide

Candida Höfer, Biblioteca do Palacio dos Marquese de Fronteira Lisboa I, 2006, c-print, 100 x 81 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco image courtesy of Candida Höfer/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.

Suzanne Silver, Kafka in Space (Parsing the Eruv), 2009, wood, rubber, wallboard, plaster, metal, rope, canvas, metal leaf, chalk, tape, vinyl, neon, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist. Candida Höfer, Narodni knihovna Praha V, 2004, c-print, 72 x 88 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, image courtesy of Candida Höfer/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn. Gregory Crewdson, Untitled, 2001–2002, digital c-print, 48 x 60 inches. Courtesy the Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica.

Jane and Louise Wilson, Erewhon (Blue Skin Bay I), 2004, c-print on aluminum in plexi box. 70.75 x 70.75 inches. Courtesy of the artists and 303 Gallery, New York.

Sarah Schönfeld, from the series Wende Gelände, 2007, c-print, 48 x 60 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Kunstagenten, Berlin. Michael Brown, The People's Playground, 2008. Cast aluminum, 71.75 x 69 x 2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Yvon Lambert Paris, New York, London.

Jane and Louise Wilson, Erewhon (Chisholm Ward), 2004, c-print on aluminum in Plexi box, 71 x 71 inches. Courtesy of the artists and 303 Gallery, New York.

Mary Jo Bole, History of Penal Institution Sanitation, 2008, Chardon™ Kohler prison sink with fused-on silk screened decals. 15 x 18 x 15 inches. Courtesy of the artist and John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI.

Suzanne Silver, Kafka in Space (Parsing the Eruv), 2009, wood, rubber, wallboard, plaster, metal, rope, canvas, metal leaf, chalk, tape, vinyl, neon, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist. Candida Höfer, Narodni knihovna Praha V, 2004, c-print, 72 x 88 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, image courtesy of Candida Höfer/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.

Alain Bublex, Untitled (TGV without windows), 2006, mixed media (model of TGV, acrylic resin, adhesive), dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Georges-Philippe & Nathalie Vallois, Paris.

Gordon Matta-Clark, Conical Intersect, 1975, 16 mm film on video, color, without sound, 18:40 minutes. Courtesy of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.

Candida Höfer, Narodni knihovna Praha V, 2004, c-print; 72 x 88 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco image courtesy of Candida Höfer/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.

Guillaume Leblon, Found Objects (Miami Beach), 2008. Mixed media, five elements: 7.5 x 6.75 inches each. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Paris. 

Laura Lisbon, Corner Set-up (Wall Displacement), 2009. Wood, paper, canvas, acrylic paint dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.

Dan Graham, Serpentine II, 1995, two-way mirror, transparent glass, punched aluminum, aluminum, 14 x 36 x 30 inches. Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery, New York.

Robert Buck, Constellation ("To find the Western Path, Right thro the Gates of Wrath"), 2008, steel railing and artifacts (headstone, surveillance mirror, steer skull, 3D print, Tumi luggage bag, and barricade), 112 x 373 x 110 inches. Courtesy of the artist; Stephen Friedman Gallery, London; CRG Gallery, New York; and Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco.

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled, 2001–2002, digital c-print, 48 x 60 inches. Courtesy the Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica.

Maya Schweizer, Le Musée de Daniel, 2004, photography installation and catalogue, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.

Christian Tomaszewski, PLAYTIME, 2009, carpet, clear globe, two sofas, two chairs, one ashtray, one lamp, black mirror, fabric screen, three doors and sound (40 minutes), 950 square feet. Courtesy of the artist.

Jacques Tati, My Uncle, 1958 (still)

Jacques Tati, Play Time, 1967 (still)

Eva Meyer and Eran Schaerf, She Might Belong to You, 2007, film, 37 minutes. Courtesy of the artists. As part of the exhibition, the film is screened at the film/video theater at Wexner Center for the Arts.

Maya Schweizer and Clemens von Wedemeyer, Metropolis, Report from China, 2006, HD, 42 minutes. Courtesy of the artists.As part of the exhibition, the film was screened at the film/video theater at Wexner Center for the Arts.

Laurent Montaron, Will there be a sea battle tomorrow?, 2008, HD film, color, sound, 11:41 minutes. Courtesy of the artist and galerie schleicher & lange, Paris. As part of the exhibition, the film is screened at the film/video theater at Wexner Center for the Arts.

Of Other Spaces, 2009, 128 pages, 8.25 x 5 inches.