A Stay in the Paphos Loop

About

September 18 – October 18, 2016
online (24/7) at offspace.xyz
& by appointment (press only)

“This new era, with all its obscurities and anxieties, demands new forms of fiction, of criticism.”
– Norman M. Klein

A Stay in the Paphos Loop takes its title from Mark von Schlegell’s acclaimed sci-fi story Venusia (2005). For the occasion of the group exhibition the unpublished audiobook will guide the viewer through the story day by day as each chapter unfolds. This is the first time that the audiobook is presented to the public.

In a distant future, living on an asteroid, society is regulated by the daily feeding of flowers. It erases any memory of the past. The sudden discovery of an ancient book dating back from Earth, results in a quest to understand the past in order to save the future. Time travel, multi-dimensionality and the endless possibilities between them form a basis for this book that reads as pulp sci-fi but is infused with a high dose of critique and philosophical reflection, a mirror of today’s world and its visions of our shared and possible futures.

A Stay in the Paphos Loop gathers the work from 13 different artists working in diverse media. Each artist relates to the story individually either through subject matter, visual representation or approach to their specific medium. The works will be presented consecutively, according to their relating chapters, creating solo presentations within the overall group exhibition.

The physical experience of the exhibition is replaced by a more familiar way of accessing information and entertainment in today’s society. The exhibition can be seen and experienced 24/7 on your smartphone, tablet and/or computer by accessing offspace.xyz online.

This exhibition engages with Venusia Audiobook (2013) by Mark von Schlegell through the work of 13 artists including Patrick Berran, Federico De Francesco, Kai Franz, Frank Heath, Shawn Kuruneru, Florian Meisenberg, Benoit Platéus, Ilana Savdie, Yves Scherer, Emily Shanahan, Travess Smalley, Clement Valla and Nicole Wittenberg. The exhibition is curated by Maxime Van Melkebeke and will run from September 18 – October 18, 2016 at offspace.xyz. A celebratory drink will be served on Sunday September 18 from 4 – 8 pm at Slick Willie, 179 Meserole Ave, Greenpoint, NY 11222. To direct media and general enquiries, please contact Maxime Van Melkebeke, maxime@offspace.xyz, 646-400-9637.