Jårg Geismar
31 Oct - 08 Dec 2007
JÅRG GEISMAR
"Nothing fits, everything goes"
October 31 - December 8, 2007
/Prague, 30th October, 2007/ It is the second time in the past three years that Jårg Geismar is visiting Prague: this time, he will be presenting his new exhibition called “Nothing fits, everything goes” at JIRI SVESTKA GALLERY as of 31st October. “Our world features a number of things which differ. Religion, culture, languages, education and many other elements which might get on well – but might not,” says Jårg Geismar. The focal point of his current exhibition is the global social and cultural merging.
Geismar has been finding his inspiration for his newest project “Nothing fits, everything goes” around the world. The artist, who is of Swedish origin, has been recently living in Tokyo, yet the inspiration for this exhibition also comes from Kyoto, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Dusseldorf, Istanbul, Marseille, Prague, Zagreb, Gotland, Rome, Naples and Bangkok.
And this time, just like at his previous Prague exhibition in 2004, the artist also let Prague influence him in many ways. “I always take inspiration from the place where I live, work – and also exhibit,” comments Jårg Geismar and adds on the actual exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes”: “The subject matter originates from my life in Tokyo, yet it is associated with the entire world in a fundamental way, which is what makes it truly fascinating.” The name of the exhibition describes the situation where everybody is purely self-centered and takes no interest in the world around them. Thus, even though seemingly contradictory elements could cause a conflict when trying to mix them, the current state in the capital of Japan points at the possible contrary outcome. Just by combining such matters like fashion or architecture, we get a mix, which seems chaotic and dissonant at first glance. On the other hand, though, something brand new is born by mixing the elements. Why couldn’t different traditions and cultures be mixed in a similar way? “Contemporary art is always trying to cross frontiers and to offer new ways of viewing and perceiving things,” says Geismar.
The exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes” is divided into several parts. “Private viewer”, a sculpture from drawn aprons and canvas demonstrates the fact that we are the only viewers of what we actually do. Coloured drawings made by Geismer on glass and cellophane are his expression of what he sees and experiences every day and what it means to him. Part of this section of exhibition is made of giant-size drawings on cellophane placed on the gallery windows, which, after being transferred onto a wall, gain a different dimension altogether. A fifty-three minute movie “Nothing fits, everything goes” features film clips shot in Prague, Tokyo, New York and other global cities. The author uses them for observation of the private and public lives of the local inhabitants and their habits and traditions.
“I have always been fascinated by his personality, which radiates serenity and his ability to view things from high up. For the fifteen years that I have known him, I have been getting closer to his sometimes extremely ephemeral work for, which proved to me its attractiveness. This was just another thing that made me organise Geismar’s second exhibition in Prague,” describes the owner of the gallery Jiri Svestka his attitude towards the artist and adds: “The importance of Jårg’s works lays seemingly outside their form: sometimes they irritate with their incredible simplicity. Eventhough Geismar does not represent the youngest artist generation, I believe that his local exhibition might influence this generation in a positive way. We miss such position within our Czech environment.”
Jårg Geismar was born in 1958 in Sweden, on the Gotland island. His parents were German and thus, he encountered the double language variety in his early years. Later on, he was faced with further cultural differences during his studies in Sweden, Germany, France and the United States. He looks for themes for his work within the countries where he lives or spends any significant amount of time. By doing so, he always accentuates the playfulness and imagination, which should make the viewer’s phantasy flow. He is trying to offer people something they have yet not had and brings them a brand new view of the world. He sees the danger of the interest in money and power, which exceed the interest of people in art. The fundamental role of art in today’s world is, in Geismar’s eyes, to open new vistas to the world and to encourage emotions and feelings of people.
For Jårg Geismar, the essence of life and the driving power behind creative work are the cognition and learning. As yet, he has not found a creative field, which he’s fail to handle: the gallery attendants can therefore enjoy his drawings, paintings, photographs, film, as well as sculpture work.
Geismar, who has exhibited in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain, Japan and the U.S.A., has also, since 2004, made himself better known to the Czech audience. At his last Prague exhibition called “Daydreaming”, he introduced sculptures, drawings and videos, which were directly influenced by Prague. The richness of each of Geismar’s exhibitions does therefore offer a powerful artistic experience to their audiences.
The exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes” is organised with the support of the Local Council of Prague 1.
"Nothing fits, everything goes"
October 31 - December 8, 2007
/Prague, 30th October, 2007/ It is the second time in the past three years that Jårg Geismar is visiting Prague: this time, he will be presenting his new exhibition called “Nothing fits, everything goes” at JIRI SVESTKA GALLERY as of 31st October. “Our world features a number of things which differ. Religion, culture, languages, education and many other elements which might get on well – but might not,” says Jårg Geismar. The focal point of his current exhibition is the global social and cultural merging.
Geismar has been finding his inspiration for his newest project “Nothing fits, everything goes” around the world. The artist, who is of Swedish origin, has been recently living in Tokyo, yet the inspiration for this exhibition also comes from Kyoto, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Dusseldorf, Istanbul, Marseille, Prague, Zagreb, Gotland, Rome, Naples and Bangkok.
And this time, just like at his previous Prague exhibition in 2004, the artist also let Prague influence him in many ways. “I always take inspiration from the place where I live, work – and also exhibit,” comments Jårg Geismar and adds on the actual exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes”: “The subject matter originates from my life in Tokyo, yet it is associated with the entire world in a fundamental way, which is what makes it truly fascinating.” The name of the exhibition describes the situation where everybody is purely self-centered and takes no interest in the world around them. Thus, even though seemingly contradictory elements could cause a conflict when trying to mix them, the current state in the capital of Japan points at the possible contrary outcome. Just by combining such matters like fashion or architecture, we get a mix, which seems chaotic and dissonant at first glance. On the other hand, though, something brand new is born by mixing the elements. Why couldn’t different traditions and cultures be mixed in a similar way? “Contemporary art is always trying to cross frontiers and to offer new ways of viewing and perceiving things,” says Geismar.
The exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes” is divided into several parts. “Private viewer”, a sculpture from drawn aprons and canvas demonstrates the fact that we are the only viewers of what we actually do. Coloured drawings made by Geismer on glass and cellophane are his expression of what he sees and experiences every day and what it means to him. Part of this section of exhibition is made of giant-size drawings on cellophane placed on the gallery windows, which, after being transferred onto a wall, gain a different dimension altogether. A fifty-three minute movie “Nothing fits, everything goes” features film clips shot in Prague, Tokyo, New York and other global cities. The author uses them for observation of the private and public lives of the local inhabitants and their habits and traditions.
“I have always been fascinated by his personality, which radiates serenity and his ability to view things from high up. For the fifteen years that I have known him, I have been getting closer to his sometimes extremely ephemeral work for, which proved to me its attractiveness. This was just another thing that made me organise Geismar’s second exhibition in Prague,” describes the owner of the gallery Jiri Svestka his attitude towards the artist and adds: “The importance of Jårg’s works lays seemingly outside their form: sometimes they irritate with their incredible simplicity. Eventhough Geismar does not represent the youngest artist generation, I believe that his local exhibition might influence this generation in a positive way. We miss such position within our Czech environment.”
Jårg Geismar was born in 1958 in Sweden, on the Gotland island. His parents were German and thus, he encountered the double language variety in his early years. Later on, he was faced with further cultural differences during his studies in Sweden, Germany, France and the United States. He looks for themes for his work within the countries where he lives or spends any significant amount of time. By doing so, he always accentuates the playfulness and imagination, which should make the viewer’s phantasy flow. He is trying to offer people something they have yet not had and brings them a brand new view of the world. He sees the danger of the interest in money and power, which exceed the interest of people in art. The fundamental role of art in today’s world is, in Geismar’s eyes, to open new vistas to the world and to encourage emotions and feelings of people.
For Jårg Geismar, the essence of life and the driving power behind creative work are the cognition and learning. As yet, he has not found a creative field, which he’s fail to handle: the gallery attendants can therefore enjoy his drawings, paintings, photographs, film, as well as sculpture work.
Geismar, who has exhibited in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain, Japan and the U.S.A., has also, since 2004, made himself better known to the Czech audience. At his last Prague exhibition called “Daydreaming”, he introduced sculptures, drawings and videos, which were directly influenced by Prague. The richness of each of Geismar’s exhibitions does therefore offer a powerful artistic experience to their audiences.
The exhibition “Nothing fits, everything goes” is organised with the support of the Local Council of Prague 1.