October 25–December 23, 2011
Sullivan Galleries
33 South State Street, 7th floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Gallery hours: Tuesday–Saturday,
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
312.629.6635
Free admission
saic.edu/exhibitions
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) proudly presents the exhibition Wolfgang Laib: Unlimited Ocean, comprising more than 30,000 piles of pollen and rice. German-born Laib finds spirituality in the simplicity of these everyday, organic materials, which provide sustenance and engender life. Ritual also plays a central role in Laib’s highly reductive and sensual art, as will be evident in his ten-day residency at the gallery where he will work with a team of SAIC students and alumni to create this work. This new site-specific installation piece—one of the largest works ever made by Laib—also draws inspiration from the vast gallery space of Louis Sullivan’s architectural monument, the former Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company building, at the corner of State and Madison Streets.
Laib has exhibited extensively, including at the Venice Biennale; documenta 7, Kassel, Germany; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C.; and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; among others. Laib’s work has been the focus of many retrospectives, including the Musée de Grenoble, France; Fondazione Merz, Turin, Italy; Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City; and Museo Nacional de Arte de La Paz, Bolivia.
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers nationally accredited undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to nearly 3,200 students from around the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, SAIC has an educational philosophy built upon an interdisciplinary approach to art and design, giving students unparalleled opportunities to develop their creative and critical abilities, while working with renowned faculty who include many of the leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC’s resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its new Modern Wing; numerous special collections and programming venues provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. For more information, please visit saic.edu.
Wolfgang Laib is represented in the U.S. by Sean Kelly Gallery. For more information, please visit skny.com/artists/wolfgang-laib.
Image above:
Wolfgang Laib, Without Place – Without Time – Without Body (detail), 2008, installation view at Musée de Grenoble. Photo: Carolyn Laib.