For ARCO Madrid 2018 Dürst Britt & Mayhew is proud to present a new body of work by Alex Farrar.
Through subtle exaggeration and performative interventions Farrar likes to expose stereotypical human mechanisms. Whether a painting, sculpture or a modified plastic chair moving across the floor, they are outward looking, self-conscious additions that playfully interrupt their context and the viewer with a proposition. He manipulates ordinary objects for their performative potential. Acknowledging a lack of absolute control he creates the conditions for something to happen, the outcome of this happening isn’t fixed but depends completely on the engagement with viewers, location and duration.
Alex Farrar (UK, 1986) received BFA’s from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and Leeds Metropolitan University, after which he completed a two-year residency at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam. He lives and works in Amsterdam and London. Recent solo exhibitions include ‘Secondary Emotions (i)’ at de Appel arts centre, Amsterdam, ‘Secondary Emotions (ii)’ at Dürst Britt & Mayhew, ‘Code Duello’, Loods 6, Amsterdam, and ‘Self-Titled’ at Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam. Recent group exhibitions include ‘Prospects and Concepts’, Art Rotterdam, ‘Summer Fete’, Ceri Hand Gallery, London, ‘Mostyn Open 18’, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno, ‘Young British Art II’, DIENSTGEBÄUDE, Zurich. Both in 2014 and 2015 he won The Best Dutch Book Designs for two of his publications.