FLUXLIST: Shigeko Kubota Opens March 2

[Lance Fung Gallery, 537 Bway NYC 10012]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT LANCE FUNG (212) 334 6242

Kennilworthart.com


S E X U A L  H E A L I N G

New Installation by S H I G E K O  K U B O T A


2 March - 1 April at 

Lance Fung Gallery, 537 Broadway NYC



Reception for the artist: 

Thursday, 2 March, 6 - 8 PM



"Sexual Healing", a solo exhibition of new work by pioneering video and
Fluxus artist, Shigeko Kubota opens March 2nd at Lance Fung Gallery.
Through her seven new site-oriented video sculptures, Kubota continues
to explore her interest in mortality and friendship.


Moving to New York from Japan to join Fluxus, Shigeko Kubota crossed
paths with the Father of Video Art, Nam June Paik, in the 1960's. 
Since then, they have supported eachother's work in Film and Video
through frequent collaborations.  Chief among these is "Allan 'n'
Allen's Complaint," 1982. Although they were married in 1970, their
rally to the introduction of sexual values in hi-art forms can be
traced from Kubota's "Vagina Painting," 19 65, performed by Kubota, and
Nam June Paik's "TV Bra," made renown by Charlotte Moorman.


"Sexual Healing" continues Kubota's objective use of sexually charged
content while documenting the everyday life she shares with her
husband, Nam June Paik. Kubota has focussed all of her energy on the
rehabilitation of her husband.since his stroke in 1996.  In a loving
homage she allows the art world to witness their unique relationship
and its innovations and adaptations to life. Sculptures and industrial
banisters set in the gallery are appropriations of objects that have
proliferated the couple's home and workspace in real life.  A funky
hospital bed in a corner, an awkward wheelchair central to the space, a
creation of a clinical hospital window, video flowers, sculptures of
the artist and her husband proudly standing side by side, projections
over the entire scene with colorful images of the pair engaged in daily
activities, support a single channel video of Paik flirting with all of
his young rehab therapists titled "Sexual Healing."


Over the decades, Kubota has focussed her work on men who have greatly
influenced her and have won her respect. Her Duchampiana series
developed a critical homage to Marcel Duchamp during the 70's and 80's.
Inaugurating Lance Fung Gallery's new space at 537 Broadway with a 1996
solo exhibition, Kubota took George Maciunas, her long time friend, as
a focus of the exhibition because the space had originally been
Maciunas's home. Kubota exhibited her own black and white video footage
of Maciunas walking through SoHo in 1976 intercut with new color video
of botanical sites. In Sexual Healing Kubota employs her customary
balance of insight and objectification while executing a poignant yet
touching homage to a great figure much closer to heart. Although the
focus is on love and compassion between two people faced with a
significant obstacle the exhibition escapes trivializing this
situation, giving us a glimpse at the ingenuity and flexibility
necessary to removing barriers within life and art.. Kubota offers this
visionary duo's approach to art as an extension of healing. 


The concurrent retrospective of Nam June Paik's work on view at the
uptown Guggenheim Museum in New York allows "Sexual Healing" a unique
added dimension.

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Lance Fung Gallery  537 Broadway  New York, New York  10012

Tel  212, 334, 6242  Fax  212, 966,0439