20 June 2013

INTERNATIONAL BATHING

By Anna-Lena Werner
Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist
all images showing work by Grayson Revoir with his show "International Bathing" at Jan Kaps, Cologne / photos  and courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist

Its almost two years ago that I went to Düsseldorf to interview Jan, Benny and Niels - three curators forming FORMAT:C. Already back then the combination of talent and ambition was striking. Insofar, it was to be expected that sooner or later one of them would open their own art space. Jan Kaps finally did the big step and already the first show "International Bathing" proves that the quality and the art he would present is exactly what Cologne needed: Grayson Revoir, a 1983-born artist from New York, prepared an installation-based show that challenges expectations on cleanliness, perfection and construction.

Revoir created three wooden objects, which he built only to destroy them again. Oxidized screws ruptured the cabinet-boxes, leaving black traces of the contamination. Screws, splinters and dirt form into dark corners that appear as either a growth of mildews or a bees' nest. The uncanny result is provoked by disgust - by not knowing what hides inside the objects. This line of thoughts is confirmed by a construction that suggests itself as a provisional shower - an almost cathartic object, exposing itself as the necessary solution to the contamination. "Sumatra Chrome x Gerardo" consists of a wooden frame, plastic PVC tubes, a water basin, a pump and is crowned by a rainfall shower head.

While appearing quite anonymous and neat on the first sight, Grayson Revoir adds an ironically personal perspective to his objects. Not only the photos of "Gerardo" suggest a protagonist, but this mystical man is accompanied by three women - namely, the wooden constructions "Gundula", "Hannelore" and "Seglinda".  


GRAYSON REVOIR | INTERNATIONAL BATHING 
1st of June 1 – 30st of June

JAN KAPS
Jülicher Strasse 24a
50674 Cologne
Opening Hours: Thu - Sun, 15h– 19.30h


Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist Jan Kaps _ Grayson Revoir _ International Bathing _ featured on artfridge _ courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist
all images showing work by Grayson Revoir with his show "International Bathing" at Jan Kaps, Cologne / photos and courtesy Jan Kaps and the artist