Jia & Luciana Lamothe

Steve Turner is pleased to present Free Function, a two-person exhibition featuring new paintings by Berlin-based Jia (嘉) and new sculpture by Buenos Aires-based Luciana Lamothe. Both artists work with strong associations to architecture: Jia, by virtue of her formal training as an architect and her use of structure; and Lamothe, in her materials and methods of assembly. Both defy the conventional functions of their imagery and components—in Jia’s case, written language’s semantic purpose; in Lamothe’s, the pipes and planks of architectural scaffolding—in order to reconfigure these elements for unexpected results.

Jia’s paintings are part of her ongoing series, The Chinese Version, which reimposes a formal aspect to “replace” that which was mutilated by the state’s ban on traditional characters, as part of its character simplification program enforced for ideological ends since the fifties. Jia’s strategy is to arrange Chinese characters for formal rather than semantic reasons. Each character therefore may retain its individual meaning, but not its function in a coherent sentence. Although they seem to be printed, the characters are hand-painted, thereby generating a further tension between their overt appearance and their actual nature.

Lamothe’s work renders construction and scaffolding materials as ductile, elastic, and dynamic in a way that contravenes expectations about their apparent rigidity. She stresses the materials to just within their breaking point, creating doubts about strength and security. Reconfiguring conventional systems of language and architecture, the artists reveal that by undercutting the intended functions of structures, new constructive meanings become possible.

Jia (born 1979, Beijing) received an M.A. in traditional Chinese drama at the Chinese National Academy of Art, Beijing and studied architecture at the North China University of Technology, Beijing. She had a solo exhibition at Arratia Beer, Berlin (2015) and her work has been included in group exhibitions at Rohkunstbau XXII, Roskow, Brandenburg (2016); Global: Infosphere, ZKM Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe (2015); Schnittmengen, Museum of Asian Art, Berlin (2016); Secret Signs, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg (2014); Berlin Biennial (2012) and the Shanghai Biennial (2002). This is her first exhibition at Steve Turner, Los Angeles.

Luciana Lamothe (born 1975 Mercedes, Argentina) studied at the National School of Fine Arts, Buenos Aires (1999); participated in the Kuitca Scholarship, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires (2011) and has had residencies at Air Antwerp (2013) and Skowhegan (2007). She has had solo exhibitions at MAMBA, Buenos Aires (2013); Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires (2014, 2011, 2008, 2006) and Arroniz Gallery, Mexico City (2012). Her works have been included in group exhibitions at Museo MAR, Buenos Aires (2015); La Maison Rouge, Paris (2015); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2013); De Appel Art Center, Amsterdam (2011); the 11th Lyon Biennial (2011) and the 5th Berlin Biennial (2005).  This is her first exhibition at Steve Turner, Los Angeles.

JIA

Born 1979, Beijing

Lives and works in Berlin

Education

2008
M.A. in Traditional Chinese Drama, Chinese National Academy of Art, Beijing

2003
B.A. in Architecture North China University of Technology, Beijing

Selected Exhibitions

2016
Free Function, Steve Turner (with Luciana Lamothe)
SCHIINITTMENGEN, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin
Absence, Filmwerkstatt, Düsseldorf
Between The Worlds, Rohkunstbau, Brandenburg

2015
The Chinese Version, Arratia Beer, Berlin
Infosphere, ZKM Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe, Germany
MACROCOSMI,  Altes Postfuhramt West, Berlin

2014
Contrasts and Utopias, The 4th edition of the End of the World Biennial, Argentina & Chile
Secret Signs, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
Environmental Impact, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Untitled, Collegium Hungaricum, Berlin
Maps and Orientation Part 2, Heldart, Berlin

2012
Perspective, Berlin
路 (lu), Berlin Biennale, Berlin

2009
The Road Series I, MIAUHAUS, Los Angeles

2007
Chinoiseries, Galerie Gordon Pym et Fils, Paris

2002
City Boxes, Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai

Bibliography

2016
“Jia”, FRIEZE, March
“Deconstructing Contemporary Chinese Art: Selected Critical Writings and Conversations, 2007-2014.”, Heidelberg:Springer. Chinese Contemporary Art Series
“Schwere See”, Der Tagesspiegel, July
“22. Rohkunstbau-Festival: kindliche Lebens- und Gefühlswelten in der Gegenwart”, inforadio RBB “The different ´In-between`”, art in berlin, July
“Rohkunstbau” zeigt Leben zwischen den Welten”, Berliner Zeitung, July

2015
Jia: The Chinese Version, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Cologne
“Critics Picks| Jia,” Artforum, November
“Die Sprache der Kunst ist universell,” Vonhundert, November
“The Language of Art is Universal,” Superior, October
“Jia. The Chinese Version”, Flux FM, October
“Jia, The Chinese Version | Infosphere, ZKM,” EX_POSURE, September
“Jia. The Chinese Version,” e-flux, September
“Die Schönheit der Schrift |The Chinese Version von Jia im ZKM,” WDR, September
“Made In Europe,” Culture Report, May
“Track Changes: Jia in Conversation with Paul Gladston,” Eyeline, April
“The Chinese Version,” Text, January

2014
“Track Changes: Jia in Conversation with Paul Gladston,” Randian, October

2012
“Das Streben der Anderen,” Artinvestor, March

2011
“Red Dots on the Road Ahead,” The Art Economist, March
“Five Chinese Picks,” The Art Economist, January

2002
“Shanghai Biennale ‘Building a Metropolis’,” Shanghai Artists, June

LUCIANA LAMOTHE

Born in 1975 in Mercedes, Argentina

Lives and works in Buenos Aires

Education and Residencies

2013
Air Antwerpen, Residency, Antwerp

2011
Kuitca scholarship, Di Tella University, Buenos Aires

2009
Lipac, Centro Cultural Rojas, Buenos Aires
Parques Extremos, Residency, Chateau CAC, Córdoba, Argentina

2007
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Residency, Maine

2005
Intercampos, Telefónica de Argentina, Buenos Aires

1999
National School of Arts Prilidiano Pueyrredon, Buenos Aires

Solo Exhibitions and Two-Person Exhibitions

2016
Free Function: Jia and Luciana Lamothe, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2014
The Function of Form, Galerie Alberta Pane, Paris
Prueba de tension, Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires
ARCO Madrid, Solo Projects Focus Latin America (with Alberta Pane gallery)

2013
Art Brussels, Galerie Alberta Pane, Paris
Contacto, mamBA, Buenos Aires (site specific installation)

2012
Crache!, Galerie Alberta Pane, Paris
Demasiada Materia, Arroniz Gallery, Mexico

2011
Función, Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires

2008
Criminal, Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires

2006
TESTA, Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires
IDEM, Alberto Sendros Gallery, Buenos Aires

2005
Autor Material, Appetite Gallery, Buenos Aires
Luciana Lamothe, Juana de Arco Gallery, Buenos Aires

Group Exhibitions

2015
Bidimensional Bisagra, Centro Cultural de la memoria Haroldo Conti, Buenos Aires
Incorporaciones, Museo MAR, Buenos Aires
ArtBo, Corporacion de Ferias y Exposiciones, Bogotá
My Buenos Aires, La Maison Rouge, Fondation Antoine de Galbert, Paris
Premio Braque 2015 Exposition, MUNTREF, Buenos Aires
Fernelmont Contemporary Art Festival 2015, Château de Fernelmont

2014
Border-Bridges, LAKINO, Latin American Film Festival, Berlin
Nouvelles Narratives,  Fernelmont Contemporary Art festival, Fernelmont
Beyond Magic, Galerie Xippas France, Paris
Fernelmont Contemporary Art 2014, Château de Fernelmont

2013
Historico-vagabond, curators : Marie Frampier and Javier Villa; Nouvelles Vagues, with Galerie Alberta Pane,
Palais de Tokyo and CPGA, Paris
The Small Where, Opus Project Space, New York
Algunos Artistas / 90 – Hoy, Fundación PROA, Buenos Aires

2012
Art Basel, Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Basel
Ultimas Tendencias II, MAMBA Museum of Modern Art, Buenos Aires
Air de Lyon, International Contemporary Art, Foundation Proa, Buenos Aires
Tijera, Solo project, Arco Madrid
Sobre el espacio y sus continuidade, F.N.A. Buenos Aires

2011
Doble penetración, Di Tella University, Buenos Aires
Une terrible beauté est née, 11º Lyon Biennial. Lyon
Fluiten in het donker, De Appel Arts Centre, Amsterdam
Rastros de aserrín, Parque España, Rosario, Argentina
Sabotaje, MACRO, Rosario, Argentina

2010
Oscar Cruz Gallery, San Pablo
Beuys and beyond, Recoleta Cultural Center, Buenos Aires
Arte in Loco, Da Maré Museum, Rio de Janeiro
Paraconstrucción, Itaú Bank, Buenos Aires
NVA, Muestra Colectiva de video, 713 Arte Contemporáneo, Buenos Aires

2009
How to draw a cathedral, Max Protetch Gallery, New York
Festival internacional de cine independiente de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
Parques extremos, Château CAC, Cordoba, Argentina
Argentina hoy, Banco do Brasil, San Pablo

2008
When things cast no shadows, 5th Berlin Biennial, Berlin
Tensa Calma, DPM Gallery, Ecuador
From panic to power, Angstrom Gallery, Los Angeles
Monstruos divinos, Frabro Space, Buenos Aires

2007
Violencias, Museo del barrio, New York
Goteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art, Goteborg, Sweden, Satellite exhibition.
Vertical hold, Punch Gallery, Seattle
Ellensburg Film Festival, Ellensburg
Survey, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia
Cultura y media, Centro Cultural General San Martin, Buenos Aires
SSSSSHHHHH!!!, Centro Cultural de España en Argentina, Buenos Aires
Salto en Alto, Torcuato Di Tella University, Buenos Aires

2006
Teledivition Show, Film Festival, Romania.
Fuerza, Rosa Chancho Gallery, Buenos Aires

2005
Rapido y furioso, Alberto Sendros Gallery, Buenos Aires
Ocultar para ve,. Metropolitano Museum, Buenos Aires
Curriculum Cero`05, Ruth Benzacar, Galeria de Arte, Buenos Aires

Awards

2015
Premio Braque 2015, MUNTREF, Buenos Aires

2011
Itau cultural award. First prize, Buenos Aires
Lichter art award. First prize, Frankfurt

2009
Arte BA – Petrobras Visual Arts Award. Sixth Edition, Buenos Aires

2005
Curriculum 0. Ruth Benzacar Gallery, Buenos Aires

2003
Ultima Bienal Venus, Tandil, Argentina

Bibliography

2011
HACKEAR LA CIUDAD. Por Paula Trama. Revista Mancilla 01.
OBRA DE DESTRUCCION MASIVA. Por Claudio Iglesias. Revista Radar.

2009
Actividad de uso. Sobre la obra de Luciana Lamothe, By Leandro Tartaglia and Pablo Accinelli.
Técnica: video. By Leandro Tartaglia and Pablo Accinelli. Olmo Editions.

2008
5th Berlin Biennial catalogue. When things cast no shadows. By D.M.
El genio del crimen. Radar Magazine. 4, october 2008.

2007
Art clandestino with Luciana Lamothe. By Cris Gil. Umelec International Magazine. 4/2007.

2006
Delinquir, los actos de Luciana Lamothe. By Leopoldo Estol and Ines
Katsestein. Otra Parte Magazine. Number 8.