Nicolas Fleming
Time Would Not Diminish Their Strength But Add Wisdom To It
September 12–October 31, 2014
Opening: Friday, September 12, 6–8pm
ISE Cultural Foundation
555 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 11am–6pm
Curated by Saada El-Akhrass
Presented at ISE Cultural Foundation, the site-specific installation Time Would Not Diminish Their Strength But Add Wisdom To It explores the sculptural potential of space by diverting one of its main components.
Using the four columns of the venue as a departure point, Fleming builds walls on the perimeter formed by the four pillars, resulting in a rectangular enclosure with rounded corners. Light emerges from the top of the construction, made of varnished drywall and colored plaster. While concealing the columns, this minimalistic temple emphasizes the textured ceiling. The massive cylindrical shapes, surmounted by the still-visible molded capitals, symbolically imply stability, power, architecture, and history. In this dark space where the only light source originates from the drywall temple, the large structure induces a somewhat cosmic flavour, shifting the immaterial sacred to the dense isolating foam substance on the ceiling. The object itself forces a contemplative relationship with visitors, and also highlights the distinctive features of the exhibition space.
In the entrance vitrine, the flawed column made by Fleming, using Styrofoam, polyurethane, plaster and found objects, acts as a narrative bond, which brings a sequential aspect to the work, pointing out that which has been veiled in the main space. The passage from the entrance to the gallery space also underlines the literary title of the piece: Time Would Not Diminish Their Strength But Add Wisdom To It, suggesting a transfer of power and force from the four columns to the artist’s construction, reminiscent of the architectural role of the pillars as structural elements. The artist shifts the columns’ familiar purpose as symbolic and physical indicator in the gallery, therefore changing the logic inherent to the physical space, and its perception by visitors.
Displaying close affinities to the formal investigation and space consideration of minimalism, the work of Nicolas Fleming relies on the accumulation of everyday discarded objects or materials, that he often finds on construction and renovation sites. He integrates them to his studio practice, where they join his mediums of preference: acrylic mediums and paints, isolating polyurethane, Styrofoam and car putty. These objects are reconfigured into sculptural forms that underline the architectural attributes and inhabit the exhibition spaces, which he transforms, using installation techniques such as wall constructions, floor add-ons and lighting alterations.
Presentation on Friday, September 12, 6:30–7pm
Nicolas Fleming and Saada El-Akhrass will give a short presentation on the project. This informal conversation between Nicolas Fleming and Saada El-Akhrass will gravitate toward the sculptures of the project and on the artist’s and curator’s collaboration.
Nicolas Fleming obtained a Master’s degree in Visual Arts in 2007 from the University of Quebec in Montreal. He has shown his work in several galleries and artist-run centers in Canada, namely at McClure Gallery (Montreal), Trois Points Gallery (Montreal), UQAM Gallery (Montreal), L’Écart (Rouyn-Noranda), Caravansérail (Rimouski) and Eastern Edge (Saint-John’s). In 2014, he presented a first temporary public sculptural intervention at KFAK,K in Kassel. He followed through with several sculptures he installed in Mexico City, a project for which he gave a conference at La Esmeralda in collaboration with Neter Proyectos. During the summer of 2014, he exhibited a large-scale outdoor sculptural installation for the Aires Libres event in Montreal. For the upcoming year, he is preparing three solo exhibitions in Quebec, at Axenéo7 (Gatineau), Galerie Trois Points (Montreal) and Maison des arts de Laval (Laval).
Saada El-Akhrass holds a master’s degree in Art Studies from the University of Quebec in Montreal. In 2008, she co-founded Les Territoires, an artist-run centre located in Montreal dedicated to emerging artists. She coordinated large-scale projects, notably the 2012 and 2013 editions of Papier Contemporary Art Fair, and is currently a consultant for Feature Art Fair (Toronto) for the Contemporary Art Galleries Association In 2013, she was a Residency Unlimited Curatorial Fellow (Brooklyn). She was recently appointed Arts Manager at the British Council Canada in Toronto, where she will lead implementation of a portfolio of arts projects between the Canada and the UK.
