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Real than the Real
Robert Gober was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1954.
Graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1976 he moved to New York,
where he lives now as a retiree.
His art incorporates sculpture and painting mainly. Gober works with objects that are somewhat domestic such as
sinks, beds, cribs, doors an others, he distorts these pieces and usually puts
them together in one space where he incorporates his painting. He
explores sexuality, relationships, nature, politics, and religion. His work is
often based on memories from his childhood or on familiar subject matter from
around his home or studio. He has a variety of solo exhibitions that date from
1988 and has won several awards.
His practice: the distortion of objects that belong to a
materialist/religious/domestic society. “Radical shifts of tone, the
interpretations of illusions, juxtapositions of high and low, nature and
culture, sublime and banal.” His distorted objects are believed to be
anti-modernists.
Example of pieces:
Untitled, 1999-2000
Conceptual art: Each piece individually is a reaction to concepts explored by artists throughout history. Each piece holds a social commentary.
Conceptual art: Each piece individually is a reaction to concepts explored by artists throughout history. Each piece holds a social commentary.
Although his work can be appreciated and analyzed as segments
or individual parts it is necessary to analyze it as it is presented in
galleries and museums, as a whole exhibition.
Example of Exhibition: his installation at Dia Center for the
Arts, NY.
Video link to this installation: Here.
The pieces together in one room are carefully arranged to
have the audience experience what some critics call “postindustrial despair.” A
struggle to interact with mass-produced industrial materials due to the
imprisoning space that does not allow the audience to escape from the reality
constructed with unreal objects.
Symbolism:
The door promises scape from this reality, but the doors do
not lead anywhere or lead to a space that is part of the same reality.
Window shows outside that is fake (lighting is artificial).
There is a real sink (it functions) that is taken outside context. It reminds the viewer of a home that is outside of that room. A home that does not exist in this reality.
A real nature exists somewhere, however it’s lost and
barricaded since all you see is a painting of a forest.
Nothing in the room is real “we stand ‘inside’ a room that puts us ‘outside’.” It is a private room and we become more alien within it.
For more on Gober I recommend the San Francisco MOMA website.
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