Ring of Fire |
4-Dimensional Mirror Mobile |
Calder Lamps |
Circus Cage |
—Ring of Fire
2009
Steel pipe, gas
Ø 200 cm
A burning ring evokes not only our fascination with fire but also our memories of lion taming, motorcycle stunts and brave acrobats in circus shows. Anyone who dares to leap through the blazing flames is rewarded by applause from the surrounding audience.
—1-Dimensional Mirror Mobile
2009
Mirror, steel rope
Ø 60 cm
—3-Dimensional Mirror Mobile
2009
Mirror, steel bars and rope
140 x 400 cm
mirrors: Ø 100 cm ; Ø 80 cm ; Ø 80 cm
—4-Dimensional Mirror Mobile
2009
Mirror, steel bars and rope
140 x 600 cm
mirrors: Ø 100 cm ; Ø 100 cm ; Ø 80 cm; Ø 60 cm
These mobiles, composed of one, three or four round, two-sided mirrors are inspired by Calder’s kinetic sculptures, though with an added dimension. Looking at this mirror installation as it turns almost imperceptibly, viewers are confronted with an unusual perspective on their surroundings that results from movement, overlapping and multiple reflections of the mirror images. Parts of the room are suddenly located next to or behind one another; views are revealed that would not be possible with the naked eye or could not be seen at the same time, making the surrounding site seem infinite.
As part of this exhibition, the Mirror Mobiles symbolize the fundamental concepts behind the Hein Circus. They reflect the cosmos of the world of the circus and the idea of bringing various artists together. The fact that the audience is reflected in them as well underlines the intention to involve viewers actively, as is done at the circus.
—Mirrors and Light
2009
Mirror, light chain
2 mirrors, each : Ø 100 cm, height variable
Mirrors and Light illustrates the expansion of space by means of mirrors that reflect each other, extending into infinity the string of lights hanging between them.
—Calder Lamps
2009
Wood, lamps
202 x 69 cm
Taking up the design of Alexander Calder’s floor lamps from his studio, Jeppe Hein combines modular wooden stands with classic clip-on lamps in order to light the artworks in the exhibition dramatically.
—Circus Cage
2009
Stainless steel
Cage: Ø 500 cm, height 400 cm; Tunnel: length 110 cm
A huge circus cage defines the gallery space and even though it is made of rough iron rods its structure appears light and open. The slender bended bars offer views from inside and outside.
It refers to tiger cages in traditional circus shows. People are allowed to enter the cage and have a closer look at the artworks presented inside instead of a lion or tiger. Walking through the entrance of the cage seems like entering the circus arena. Inside the cage visitors find themselves in a situation of looking and being looked at. This opens up a new perspective that is strongly perceived as being part of the circus show.
—Circus Benches
2009
Wood
4 curved benches, each 40 x 60 x 150 cm
—Circus Stools
2009
Steel, wood
4 stools: 80 x 100 x 100 cm; 2 stools: 60 x 80 x 80 cm; 3 stools: 50 x 70 x 100 cm; 1 stool: 100 x 120 x 100 cm
—Circus Hein Sign
2009
Steel, PVC, LED’s
179 x 15 x 660 cm
—Circus Hein Shop
2009
wood, steel, mirror, lamps
263 x 270 x 72 cm (shop); 93 x 98 x 10 cm (mirror)
In addition to his Circus Cage, Jeppe Hein designed other elements based on classic circus architecture: black and gold benches for the audience, round circus pedestals, a large sign with CIRCUS HEIN in letters of red, yellow and black light during the day and blue light at night and a shop that blinks in red and white. Circus artists such as Finn Janning, Cocktaildesigners, Let Me Show You the World, All the Way to Paris, Cirque de l’École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Kenneth Balfelt and King Ayisoba have designed T-shirts, buttons, carrier bags and paste-on moustaches to complete the visitors’ outfits as well as CDs with music, flipbooks, posters and postcard which audience members can take home as souvenirs.
Biography
* 1974 in Copenhagen
1997 Royal Danish Academy of Arts, Copenhagen
1999 Städel Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Frankfurt / Main
Lives and works in Copenhagen / Berlin
Selected solo exhibitions
—2009
ARoS Kunstmuseum, Århus, Denmark
Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver
—2008
Frieze Art Project, London
Dan Graham + Jeppe Hein, Johnen & Schöttle, Cologne; Gallery Rüdiger Schöttle, Munich
—2007
Carré d’Art, Musée d’art contemporain de Nîmes
Sculpture Center, New York
The Curve, Barbican Art Centre, London
—2005
The Moore Space, Miami
Espace 315, Centre Georges Pompidou Paris
—2004
P.S.1. MOMA, New York
Selected group exhibitions
—2009
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
Tate Liverpool
—2008
Platform Seoul 2008, Art Sonje Center, Seoul, Korea
Institut d’art contemporain Villeurbanne / Lyon, France
KIASMA, Helsinki
The World as a Stage, ICA Boston
—2007
The World as a Stage, Tate Modern, London
—2006
Liverpool Biennale
—2005
MOCA, Los Angeles
—2004
Interludes, 50th Biennale di Venezia
|
Ring of Fire |
4-Dimensional Mirror Mobile |
Calder Lamps |
Circus Cage |