Felipe Mujica – The Spirit of Science Fiction
6th February– 29th March
Beam / Primary
Beam, in collaboration with Proyectos Ultravioleta, is pleased to present The Spirit of Science Fiction, the first solo show by Felipe Mujica (Santiago, Chile, 1974) in the UK, which borrows its title from the novel by Roberto Bolaño (1953–2003) written around 1984 and published posthumously. The exhibition includes woven textiles, prints, artist’s books, and a new body of works on paper titled Te regalaré un abismo (I Will Gift You an Abyss) – a title taken from a poem by Bolaño, one of the most significant Latin American literary voices of his generation.
In this series of works, Mujica pursues elements of colour, form, figure and ground which the artist learned in Eduardo Vilches’ colour seminar at the school of art at the Catholic University in Chile during the nineties. The work resonates with the German artist and tutor Joseph Albers’ (1888–1976) highly influential colour theory that was developed in the early 60s, and which continues to be an enduring influence today.
With Mujica’s latest body of work the artist has developed a playful experience of colour and forms through 10 doubled-sided, hand-painted, gouache on paper works. The works are developed within a grid system and series of geometric rules that the artist has explored for over 20 years. Each piece is just one of many possible future combinations. The artist’s exploration of the same grid, system and method is a process of re-invention, of recreation, with different rules applied in each series, a game-like approach to creation of the work.
A game often implies a certain order, or structure, and is limited to the creative exercise, but in the case of Mujica’s work this ‘game’ is designed to allow a freedom of decision making.
The work is set in a series of double-sided frames in which the work can be viewed from both sides. Each piece is constructed from two sheets of paper placed on top of one another. A series of geometric forms are cut out of each sheet to reveal the sheet on the reverse. This results in a series of ‘windows’ in the graphic forms, which gives a sense of openness and experimental variation. The work can also be read as an unknown language, a series of symbolic glyphs as well as a visual system.
The nature of the works allows them to be switched around throughout the exhibition to be reconfigured in a game-like manner. This playful quality subverts the oppressive nature of rules, allowing for collective exploration rather than a singular vision of the artist.
Also included in the exhibition is a series of screen prints, ‘Arboles Imaginarios’ (Imaginary Trees), where Mujica has pursued a series of geometric forms using a strict black, red, grey and off white colour palette that resonates with El Lissitzky, the Russian artist, designer and illustrator. The forms are determined by a series of fine lines and contain shapes such as the rhombus, parallelogram, diagonal and rectangle. Each work is geometrically interrelated and echoes the game-like forms of ‘Te regalaré un abismo’. A second series of 12 screen prints, ‘El Condor Passa’, also on display, follows a similarly strict geometric system and range of colours.
The hanging textile pieces, or ‘curtain projects’ in the exhibition, are from the body of work Join Hand in Hand With All Who Work. These artworks are made with different people, in different contexts and places, using different materials and techniques. They are influenced by the history of geometric abstraction, both western and indigenous, employing the particular textile knowledge of where each piece was made. The works were the product of a residency at the Industriemuseum in Ghent, Belgium – a town with a significant textiles tradition in the cotton industry – and were developed with a community focus, where participants were invited to take part in embroidery workshops. While the work follows Mujica’s formal exploration of geometry, each piece reflects on the social and political history of its people and the city. The workshops presented an opportunity for slowing down and space for mutual care and understanding amongst collaborators.
This exhibition is curated by Beam and Proyectos Ultravioleta