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The secret world of art
by Dan Cossins
10/ 5/2007
THE art of a reclusive American, which was only discovered at
the end of his life, is part of a new exhibition at Manchester's
Whitworth Art Gallery.
Henry Darger was a lonely, god-fearing caretaker working in Chicago
who died in 1974.
He was also a prolific writer and illustrator who produced an
immense body of art. His work only came to light in his final
years, when the owners of the boarding house where he had lived for
40 years began to clean out his room.
Darger's richly-imagined watercolour creations are now celebrated
and can be seen in a fascinating new exhibition.
A Secret Service is a disparate exhibition which attempts to
explore the human fascination with all things secret. The
exhibition features the work of 15 international artists which
centres on the creation of secret worlds. It addresses everything
from magic, alchemy and dreams, to political conspiracy, assumed
identity and the covert workings of the state.
Particular reference is made to Kurt Schwitters, whose final
creation, the Merzbarn, is among the rare surviving examples of his
four architectural constructions created from refuse and found
objects. The exhibition presents rarely-seen documentation of these
perplexing buildings and a specially commissioned work by Mike
Nelson whose labyrinthine installations echo those of
Schwitters.
American painter Mark Lombardi concerned himself with uncovering
the secrets of powerful organisations.
His works illustrate the opaque networks of influence that connect
George W Bush to oil-rich sheiks, or the Vatican's bank to
convicted murderers.
Pietro Antonio Narducci, co-founder of the Abstract Expressionist
Movement, became disillusioned with the art world and withdrew to a
New Jersey suburb where he founded a private museum, filled with
his own creations. This strange and desolate institution is
documented in The PAN Museum Project.
The Speculative Archive group investigates the meaning of "the
secret" for those whose job it is to create and preserve classified
information. Their film, It's Not My Memory of It, features
interviews with members of the US intelligence community.
In an attempt to "disappear", 24 year-old Robert Cuoghi adopted the
appearance, habits and opinions of his sixty-something father. The
work is documented through holiday snaps, home movies and
self-portraits of artist as his father.
Sophie Calle exploited her position as a hotel chambermaid to
photograph guests' possessions in order to gain a rare insight into
the private lives of strangers.
Many of the artists share an impulse to keep the heart of their
work hidden or absent. Tehching Hsieh's performances, which include
forcing himself into solitary confinement for a year and clocking
on every hour for the same period, are minimally documented by
photos and short films.
The exhibition also includes the work Gedewon, Susan Hiller,
Jeffrey Vallance and Oskar Voll.
Curator Richard Grayson says: "In a world where secrets, both
perceived and real, seem to have an increasing influence on our
lives it is a good time to explore ideas of and human attitudes
toward secrecy. I hope the exhibition will raise questions about
what and how much we should be allowed to see of other people's
minds and imaginations. Through their desire to impart secrecy or
reveal concealed truths many of the artists on display here can
tell us something about the incredible power and scope of the human
imagination."
The curator will discuss the ideas behind the exhibition at 5.30pm
on Wednesday, June 20. A Secret Service: Art, Compulsion,
Concealment runs at the Whitworth Art Gallery until July 29.
Admission is free. For information call 0161 275 7450 or log on to
www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth
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