Media Release
“OBJECTS OF LIFE”, A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION BY STEVEN SEBRING AND PATTI SMITH artMbassy: February 8th until February 14th
In conjunction with the world premiere of Dream of Life at Sundance 2008, artMbassy Gallery will feature “objects of life”, a multimedia installation of objects, photographs and video inspired by Steven Sebring’s filming of the artist, singer and songwriter Patti Smith. The installation will be on display from February 8th until February 14th.
The film Dream of Life is a hypnotic plunge into the philosophy and artistry of cult rocker Patti Smith. This portrait of the legendary musician, artist and poet explores themes of spirituality, history and the human condition. Known as the godmother of punk, Patti Smith emerged in the 1970’s, galvanizing the music scene with her unique style of poetic rage, music and trademark swagger.
The collaborative multimedia exhibition “objects of life” was inspired by photographer and director Steven Sebring’s experience shooting the film Dream of Life. During the course of filming he became fascinated by the history and mythology behind the possessions and personal treasures that Patti Smith shares with us during the film’s most intimate moments. It resulted in the desire to return to his roots as a photographer and to recontextualize through his camera lens, the sacred, and the common place; the effect is both anthropologic and sentimental, collapsing cultural differences in iconographic similarity, while revealing the object’s character and lasting beauty.
“objects of life” consists of 14 large scale photographs taken by Sebring. This collection ranges from Patti Smith’s childhood dress, to an ancient urn containing the remains of Robert Mapplethorpe, to black leather boots that have stomped around the world. Included is a video installation of Patti Smith in the course of creating an art piece, as well as a rare unseen oil painting by Patti Smith, which is her largest work to date. The exhibit also features a private collection of personal belongings from both artists whose collaboration is grounded by their relationship to the film and to their individual experiences.
This exhibit has been crafted to be self-contained; the art travels in custom-made crates constructed of simple wood. The crate itself becomes an active element of the installation, transporting as well as supporting many objects for display; which allows the exhibit to accompany the film worldwide with the least amount of ecological waste.
ABOUT STEVEN SEBRING
Steven Sebring is a photographer/director renown for his definitive style of merging raw realism with high fashion. He has worked with numerous magazines and shot campaigns for companies such as Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, Maybelline, DKNY, and Coach. It was however, his shooting celebrity and artist portraiture that led to his meeting and photographing the legendary musician, artist, and poet Patti Smith. Upon seeing her perform he was so moved, that he encouraged her to allow him to begin filming, resulting in the eleven year film project Dream of Life.
Steven Sebring’s published work includes the following: - The art and portraiture of renowned French Sculptors Claude and Francoise Lalanne, for their book Lalanne published in 2006 by Reed Krakoff, Paul Kasmin, and Ben Brown. - He created, designed, and co-published the photographic book titled Bygone Days. Released in 2005, it depicts the history of an American family and rural homestead life in Bison, South Dakota 1910-1950. The photos were taken by Sebring’s great, great uncle, John Penor, who recently passed away, in the same sod house he was born in, at the age of 97. The book was co-published with DAP publishing and has won numerous international awards. - LYNN front to back, published in 2005 by Assouline Publishing, Inc. - Naked Flowers Exposed, published in 1997 by HarperCollins Publishers. - Sebring’s photography has also been included in Patti Smith’s book “Patti Smith Complete; Lyrics, Reflections and Notes for the Future” and on her albums such as “Gung Ho”, “Land”, and the latest album “Twelve” released 2007.
ABOUT PATTI SMITH
Patti Smith is a writer, artist and performer. Her Seminal album Horses was followed by eleven releases, including Radio Ethiopia, Easter, Dream of Life, Gone Again, Peace and Noise, Trampin’ and Twelve. Her artwork was first exhibited at the Gotham Book Mart in 1973, and she has been associated with the Robert Miller Gallery since 1978. Strange Messenger a retrospective of three hundred works, made it’s debut at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg and has been exhibited world wide, most notably at the Institute of Contemporary art, Philadelphia: Haus der Kunst, Munich: the Parco museum, Tokyo: The Museum Boijsmans Van Beunigen, Rotterdam and The Palazzo Fontano di Trevi, Rome. Her books include Witt, Babel, Wool gathering, The Coral Sea, Complete, and Augeries of Innocence. On July 10, 2005 she received the commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres. The highest grade awarded by the French Republic to eminent artists and writers who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts through out the world.
artMbassy GALLERY artMbassy was founded by the art historian Chiara Erika Marzi in April 2005 as a gallery for contemporary arts situated in the very centre of Berlin between the Museumsinsel and the Hackescher Markt.
For artMbassy Chiara Marzi and Nicole Löser form the well-chosen group of main curators that is partly supported by associated curators such as Julie August, Eberhard Bosslet, Alexandra Strüven, Patrick Heide or Emanuele Guidi. As different as these personalities are all the more diverse are their approaches to contemporary art which the gallery clearly incorporates within its concept and program.
The team shares both work and success – this modern and flexible working method provides enough room for those involved to launch into their own activities and further cultural projects. artMbassy thus sees itself as a platform of artistic exchange and debate that is permanently enriched by individual viewpoints and very different perspectives of artists, curators and the public.
Therefore new foundations of further artMbassy galleries in Germany and abroad are founded, p.e. in Munich and Rome. The Berlin gallery functions furthermore as a home base to establish an interactive network between these satellite galleries.
The objective is to bring about an exchange between the Berlin artists and those artists involved with the satellites of artMbassy in the rest of the world. These new establishments expose the artists to new audiences and foster contacts to new groups of collectors and purchasers. artMbassy offers widespread perspectives on the different genres of contemporary art by both new and established artists.
For more information:
Gallery artMbassy Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 7 10178 Berlin/ Germany phone: 49 (0)30 24 045 755 www.artMbassy.com [email protected]