Hotel 419

About

Tanna’s process centres around collaborative activity, assembling artists and friends to produce a unique result: the Hotel serves as a metaphor under whose roof diverse practices are brought together through the contributions of the guests invited to participate and occupy the space.

In pursuit of the idea that self-serving is inherently self-defeating and that art belongs to nobody but everybody, Tanna has deliberately undermined his own opportunity for a solo show and invited other artists to fill the space. In addition, familiar figures have been selected to act as brand names to elevate the profile of ‘Hotel 419’, employing cynical tactics in the service of generosity and collaboration.

In embracing both possibilities and accepting these deflective tactics, we are able to approach ideas of deception, façades and posturing as an implicit and important theme in the structure of the exhibition. Overlaying the separate content of the works on display is the notion of the sleight of hand needed to operate the fronts that we present to ourselves and others. ‘Hotel 419’ therefore exposes itself as a mechanism for coping with the vulnerability of exhibiting the self and re-purposes it as content and context.

The show focuses on the curational aspect of Tanna's work over the past 10 years, and will feature exclusive works as well as unseen collaborations. Residing in the hotel will be a mixture of new arrivals as well as familiar faces, all of whom compliment Tanna's practice.

'Guests include: Marie Aimee, Miro Arva, David Blandy, Ed Fornieles, Charlie Phillips, Madeleine Pledge, Gribaudi Plytas, Oscar Murillo and Lauren Williamson

Artist Bio/Statement:

Jonny Tanna is known for his photographic and video disassembling of candid subjects. Tanna takes a multi-disciplinary approach in his ongoing exploration of the lapses in various modes of communication, and the ambiguities of cognitive bias. Tanna’s oeuvre includes video, photography and illustration.

For the past 10 years, Tanna has collaborated with artists, musicians and film maker, profiling their process as well professional and casual interactions, shot in various formats, complimented by a comprehensive understanding of video and it’s recording, which allows for variation in the aesthetic without any necessity for post-processing.

The non-structural content of his work is generally a foray into artistic and societal structures that he finds confining —traditional narrative structure, television “realities,” notions of what is inherently feminine. Narratives and ideas are opened to interpretation rather than spoon feeding the viewer.
 

http://themuseat269.com/whats-on/detail/96/jonny-tannas-hotel-419

Links
http://JonnyTanna.com
http://cargocollective.com/JonnyTanna/Art - previous shows/exhibitions
http://instagram.com/JonnyTanna - Tanna's street photography works