Coming Soon! The Dark Cube at Palais de Tokyo
THE DARK CUBE curated by Francesca Gavin
Juliette Bonneviot / Harry Burden / Antoine Catala / Anne de Vries / Jeremy Deller / Thomas Dozol / Oliver Laric / Clunie Reid / Ben Sansbury / Jeremy Shaw / KasperSonne / Scott Treleaven
Vernissage: October 6 2012 6pm-12am DJ Emma Sutton (FuseBOX)
Finissage: October 15 2012 Public 8pm-12am Virtual DJ set by Dave Maclean (Django Django)
A black or UV light emits ultraviolet radiation and little visible light. It creates an effect of
fluorescence on colours and materials. ‘The Dark Cube’ exploits this effect by showing
paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures in darkness, illuminated only by these purple
glowing lamps.
The show was initially inspired by 1960s Black Light posters, initially created as
representations or aids to hallucinogenic drugs. Alongside references to failed rebellion, this
group exhibition touches on wider ideas around illumination and darkness, veiling and
unveiling. Part of the aim is to demonstrate the relationship of contemporary ideas and
aesthetics with defunct or less used forms of technology.
The Dark Cube is also a response to the cavernous nature of the Palais de Tokyo, and the
flipside to the Garden of Eden’s idea of a forbidden space. In northern European art The
Garden of Eden was depicted as a lush forest glade, while in the south a desert oasis. In our
modern times creating a landscape of electronic phosphorescence is our new utopian Eden.
The exhibition switches the normal viewing experience under day or white light on its head. It
becomes an X-ray of the white cube.
The Dark Cube is part of a series of exhibitions and events GALERIE UTOPIA / THE
FORGOTTEN BAR PROJECT: The Garden of Eden presented by Tjorg Douglas Beer being
held at the Palais de Tokyo September to November 2012 (http://www.galerie-utopia.com)
Image: Harry Burden 'Dirty Fucking Hippies' (UV) 2012