2nd Athens Biennale 2009
HEAVEN
June 15–October 4, 2009

"Splendid Isolation, Athens"
curated by Cay Sophie Rabinowitz

       * Esplanade Building (next to Tae Kwon Do Court), Water Plaza, Faliron Olympic Complex

As one of the curators invited to contemplate the subject of Heaven, Cay Sophie Rabinowitz oriented her approach to this immeasurably broad topic by naming her exhibition Splendid Isolation, Athens. Guided by an immersive approach rather than a topical or thematic one, her selection and presentation let the viewer ponder if and how creative activity, social practices, and aesthetic experience may be directed. "Splendid Isolation, Athens" includes a number of art works that employ some formal or structural principle, whether it be as rigid as scaffolding, as symbolic as a monetary exchange, as modular as blocks, or as flexible as narrative. For many artists in the show, some existent form—be it physical or immaterial, biographical or contrived, religious or scientific—offers a means by which to re-consider, re-form, re-imagine or even re-structure a momentary or lifelong place of inspiration.

Participating artists
Lara Almarcegui, Anastasia Douka, Michael Gibson, Benita-Immanuel Grosser (Y8), Em Kei, Kalup Linzy, Miltos Manetas, Malcolm McLaren, Ryan McNamara, Martin Oppel, Christodoulos Panayiotou, Mai-Thu Perret, Angelo Plessas, Ry Rocklen, Willem de Rooij, Ettore Sottsass, Adrian Williams, Hsuan Hsuan Wu.

Ry Rocklen, Siren, 2009. Curtain, two part epoxy putty, tacks, metal, 44 × 9 × 55 inches.