The Kunstverein Bielefeld is delighted to present Decomposition Evaluation, the first institutional solo exhibition of the work of SoiL Thornton to be held in Europe. Thornton’s practice engages with the underlying conditions for the exhibition, presentation and representation of artistic production. Who represents what? Which roles are assigned to any particular artist? What are the underlying processes of economic exploitation? How are identity, individuality, and biography used to shape artists into brands? And what is it that constitutes value?
SoiL Thornton’s artistic work questions precisely these processes, the ways by which a society constitutes agreed norms and sets up established power relations. Their approach is often about measuring the tension between an idea and its material implementation. Thornton has developed this exhibition specifically for the Kunstverein Bielefeld, including new installative works. One concept moving through the exhibition is based on an investigation of the visual effects of chroma keying, examples of which can be seen in the invitation card and in the site-specific wall work Beginnings of dematerialized space / containment through exercising imagination then exercising active practice? (ready to go) (2022) shown at the Kunstverein Bielefeld. In film production, key colors like chroma green are used to create backgrounds on which to overlay digital content. Thornton’s work has an abiding interest in questions of how things appear and how meaning comes to be. Their works are an appeal to fiction and its inherent possibilities for self-transcendence.
In the course of the exhibition a publication will appear. This is supported by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation as part of the Catalogs for Young Artists sponsorship award. The publication is planned for 2023.
SoiL Thornton was born 1990 and lives and works in New York. They have recently had solo exhibitions at Galerie Neu, Berlin (2022), Essex Street, New York, and Morán Morán, Los Angeles (both 2021). Their work has been included in group exhibitions at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, Switzerland (2022), and the SculptureCenter, New York (2021). In 2017, their work was featured at the Whitney Biennial in New York.
Curated by Nadine Droste
KUNSTVEREIN BIELEFELD
Welle 61
33602 Bielefeld
Thu–Sun, 12:00 – 18:00
Mo-Wed, by appointment
T +49 (0) 521.17 88 06
F +49 (0) 521.17 88 10
kontakt@kunstverein-bielefeld.de
SoiL Thornton
Beginnings of dematerialized space/containment through exercising imagination, then exercising active practice? (ready to go), 2022
One wall in each room painted chromakey green
Unique
Detail
Waisted Breathe, 2022
Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags, 18 parts, dimensions variable
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(Kunstverein Bielefeld), 2022
Spray paint and CNC routed MDF coated with FR polyuria, sanded, primed and sprayed white, ink
120 x 120 x 10 cm
- Sculpture to always house another object or artwork on top of it in its presentation.
Who makes who at home (TZK edition), 2021
TEXTE ZUR KUNST office key, steel reinforced J-B Weld epoxy, 10,2 cm long steel wire key ring and removed galvanized steel NYPD barrier support railing
80 x 10,2 x 2,5 cm - Exhibition copy
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(Kunstverein Bielefeld), 2022
Spray paint and CNC routed MDF coated with FR polyuria, sanded, primed and sprayed white, ink
120 x 120 x 10 cm
- Sculpture to always house another object or artwork on top of it in its presentation.
Who makes who at home (TZK edition), 2021
TEXTE ZUR KUNST office key, steel reinforced J-B Weld epoxy, 10,2 cm long steel wire key ring and removed galvanized steel NYPD barrier support railing
80 x 10,2 x 2,5 cm - Exhibition copy
Assisted Cleansing/tactile gap glue (372 of 1,000,000), 2020 - ongoing
Vehicularly flattened aluminum cans inside storage vessels
Dimensions variable
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Waisted Breathe, 2022
Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags
18 parts, detail
Dimensions variable
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Labor Cont(r)act (Kunstverein Bielefeld assisted), 2022
Spray paint on wall
Dimensions variable
Waisted Breathe, 2022
Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags, 18 parts
Dimensions variable
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
actualizing implications of self care through world care via capitals regenerative processes, i mean earths, 2022
Voucher for my purchase of Loop mycelium coffin for self, mycelium material sample choices to be used for coffin, letter from the owner of Loop, mat and wood frame, detail
56 x 39 cm
Ausstellungansicht Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Beginnings of dematerialized space/containment through exercising imagination, then exercising active practice? (ready to go), 2022
One wall in each room painted chromakey
Unique
Detail
Husband Chair (KB), 2022
Leg 1: 332 x 125 cm, height 173 cm Leg 2: 421 x 80 cm, height 173 cm Material coated fabric Delinova 100, color 7211, monochrome
External blower with dimmer and silencer
Vertical inner cloths approx. every 30 cm
Dirt photo (guarded)/Dirt photo (vulnerable), 2022
Archival pigment prints on paper the scale of Deana Lawson’s Barrington and Father, 2021
Ink jet prints each in Pine Nature wood frames
Each 194 x 154 cm
- guarded photo must be installed in a location that renders it inaccessible, covered or dismembered, blocked vulnerable photo must be installed in a location that renders it fully accessible both visually and physically, unblocked
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(potential actualization), 2022
Mauersand, clay undercoat, Lehm, and straw on wood
105 x 105 x 10 cm
- Sculpture to always be presented as itself with no object on top. Beginnings of dematerialized space/containment through exercising imagination, then exercising active practice? (ready to go), 2022
One wall in each room painted chromakey
Unique
Detail
Waisted Breathe, 2022
Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags, 18 parts
Dimensions variable
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(faux pas in faux finish), 2022
Digital print car-wrapping foil, laminated, on CNC routed MDF coated with FR polyuria, sanded, primed and sprayed white
120 x 120 x 10 cm
Detail
- Sculpture to always house another object or artwork on top of it in its presentation.
Trading Holdings spaces for new empathic proximity, 2022
My dog Moss’ hair and my hair inside glass vessels with corks
Each 18,5 x 15,5 x 12,5 cm
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton
Pay it Forward, 2022
Steel, chicken wire, adverts and compost
Detail
300 x 150 x 100 cm
Exhibition view Decomposition Evaluation
Kunstverein Bielefeld 2022
Photo: Fred Dott
Press information
Events:
-
19.08.2022, 19:00
Opening
Decomposition Evaluation by SoiL Thornton
Speakers: Uli Horaczek (Board), Jasmina Merz (Kunststiftung NRW), Nadine Droste (Director) -
20.08.2022, 12:00
Artists' Talk
SoiL Thornton in conversation with Nadine Droste
-
21.08.2022, 17:00
Curator's Tour
with Nadine Droste
-
27.08.2022, 20:00
Jazz im Waldhof
Mit der Liun & The Science Fiction Band
In Kooperation mit dem Kulturamt Bielefeld und Bunker Ulmenwall -
28.08.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Leonore Spemann
-
03.09.2022, 10:00
Children's Activity
with Klaus Braun
Contribution (donations welcome) min. 15 € / child -
04.09.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Undine Rietz
-
11.09.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Valerie Kurbakov
-
18.09.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Carsten Gude
-
25.09.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Katharina Götz
-
02.10.2022, 10:00
MEMBERS’ DAY TRIP
to the Museum of Contemporary Art Siegen
Guided tour through the exhibition Meine Juden and the collection of the MGK with the director Thomas Thiel. Please register at: mitglieder@kunstverein-bielefeld.de -
02.10.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Valerie Kurbakov
-
09.10.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Nicola V. Manitta
-
16.10.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Nicola V. Manitta
-
22.10.2022, 10:00
Children's Activity
with Klaus Braun
Contribution (donations welcome) min. 15 € / child -
23.10.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Carsten Gude
-
30.10.2022, 17:00
GUIDED TOUR
through the exhibition with Oriane Durand (Interim Director)
