SMMoA Santa Monica Museum of Art

Pierre Bismuth

21 Jan - 22 Apr 2006

Project Room II:
PIERRE BISMUTH : COMING SOON
January 21 - April 22, 2006

Coming soon - an entirely new creation by Bismuth conceived for the Santa Monica Museum of Art - is a single screen video work based on a previous neon piece of the same name, comprising a color video montage of the last segments of film trailers. The focus of the piece is embodied in the iconic phrase "Coming soon," which is typically used to announce the release of a film. By repeating this language, Bismuth presents a paradox to the viewer, as the words create an expectation that will never be fulfilled.

Pierre Bismuth utilizes diverse media such as drawing, collage, musical composition, and video, to track, document, and reveal the complex thought processes that underlie human memory, comprehension, and interpretation. His work also explores the effects of language and the proliferation of images on every day life. Bismuth has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in such venues as Art Basel, the Venice Biennale, the Art Gallery of York University, Toronto, Canada, Sprengel Museum Hannover, the Kunstmuseum, Thun, Switzerland, and the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. Born in Paris, Bismuth lives and works in Brussels and London. He is best known to American audiences for his work on the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for which he, Michel Gondry, and Charlie Kaufman received an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Original Screenplay.


Pierre Bismuth: Coming Soon has been generously supported by the Consulate General of France, French Cultural Services.

The Santa Monica Museum of Art is grateful to the following foundations and organizations for general operating and specific project support: Anonymous; The Annenberg Foundation; Jay Chiat Foundation; City of Santa Monica Cultural/Arts Organizational Support Grant Program; the Good Works Foundation; The Audrey and Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation; the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation; and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. Special thanks to the Board of Trustees and the Friends and Members of the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

© Pierre Bismuth
Coming Soon
2006
Color video still: 13-inch screen
Courtesy of the artist
 

Tags: Pierre Bismuth