New Media @ The Whitney Biennial

There were several artists that utilized new media at the 2010 Whitney Biennial. Kate Gilmore integrates physical sculpture into her video. She constructed a room big enough to house only her body. In her video she is kicking through the rigid walls. She wears a polka dot dress and high heels making it a quite obvious feminist statement while she punctures the bare masculine walls. The idea reminds me a bit of Pipilotti Rist and her lollipop smashing car video. I like the performative aspect of this video; that the artist physically destroyed her work from the inside out, also the remaining structure was attractive. Prescribing the philosophy that art should move forward, I do not think she evoked something beyond her predecessors in video and performance. Maybe that was the point. With that in mind I still think Gilmores work using of new media was probably one of the more successful.

In Jesse Aaron Green utilizes the history of minimalism in association to the male form. Upon sixteen wooden Juddish squares sixteen spandex clad men stretch in accordance to a text that is read to them. The room is bare, furthering its minimalist implication. I´m interested in the notion of exercising or preparing for some unknown battle or physical challenge in relation to the stark square. I wish there was a bit more here to draw from, perhaps more historical reference.

Ari Marcopoulos uses the wall and screen technique to look into my little brothers playroom...just kidding. I quickly lost interest. Its not that I don´t like little boys or improvisational music, its just that it doesn´t transcend anything beyond a feedback ridden jam session. I think there are better ways of executing whatever this artist was trying to convey, an interest in pre-pubescent boys and playtime needs a little more explanation.