TEMP, located in the heart of Tribeca, is a new art space that has churned out a myriad of projects, performances, and exhibitions by emerging and evolved artists who range in various creative genres. Co-founded by New York University graduates Alex Ahn and Ari Lipkis, the space started off with a bang in September 2012 featuring a 12-artist group show and performance by electro hip-hop artist LE1F. Since then, Ahn and Lipkis have continued to make broad use of their “temp” (or temporary) ample two-level square footage.
For the first time since they opened, TEMP is using their space for two simultaneous exhibitions organized by Belgian-born curator Tim Goossens, Larger Than Love and Abravana Nova Yorkque, which will both be on view through May 25th.
The first floor exhibition, Larger Than Love, features the work of Tel Aviv-based artists Shony Rivnay and Ran Slavin who present a giant inflated sculpture featuring a looped sound piece. Rivnay’s cloudlike sculpture has compulsive scribbling of the Hebrew word “ehevuni,” translated as “you must love me,” nearly covering the entire work. The work, Ehevuni, initially comes across as a playful nod to soft sculpture but as you get closer and see the persistence of the Hebrew phrase, which was written by the artist himself, it becomes a desperate plea.
Rivnay explains, “I am totally interested in the balance between temptation and distraction. I am also fascinated by the reaction of people within that area of balance. The whole idea of this work and some of my other works is to play with that balance but not really find it.”
For non Hebrew-speaking viewers who do not take the time to read the press release or wall text, the word “ehevuni” will become a plea unheard. As you walk around the breadth of inflated sculpture Ran Slavin offers and unexpected way out of this language barrier with his sound installation titled simply Soundtrack. The piece samples the English-sung track “Lovefool” ironically performed by the Swedish pop group The Cardigans. Slavin who has a background in both the music and art world, echoes the compulsive nature Rivnay’s Ehevuni through the continuous looping of the pop song with emphasis on one moment of the song that again insists, “love me.”
The basement level of TEMP features Abravana Nova Yorkque, an audience participatory work created by São Paulo-based artist Ricardo de Castro. De Castro is known for intersecting a variety of media describing the beginnings of his own work as a “hybrid between installation and painting” with a focus on “body and space.”
When visitors head to the basement, they will find an assortment of objects including stairs, stools, fabrics, makeup, and scrap wood and paper. These objects become props, so to speak, for an on camera shoot that captures the actions and behavior of willing participants. The audience will be lured out of its comfort zone of a casual viewer and inserted into the exhibition itself. De Castro’s installation will feed directly off of the “abravana” – which can loosely be interpreted as energy – of those partaking in the exhibition.
Shony Rivnay and Ran Slavin and São Paulo-based artist Ricardo de Castro Temp – through May 25th – Tribeca, NYC
Words/Photo: Lizanne Merrill © Artlyst 2013 Photo: ‘Larger Than Love’ Shony Rivnay and Ran Slavin