The Negative Motor, In the Position

Mar 10 — 27, 1987
Field:

Exhibition

Description:

Nick Brdar’s solo exhibition featured two interactive sculptures: The Negative Motor and In the Position. Both works were activated by the viewer, and involved lights and sound.
Seen in black and white, in a white gallery, stand multiple sculptures imitating the human body through machinery, tripods and cutouts. The nearest sculpture is made of metal parts, and its head is a tire. Behind it, on the right, is a standing fan with sticks creating its circular frame. In the furthest corner stands a human outline that extends by width across the room.
Seen in black and white, in a white gallery, stands a human-like sculpture made of metal in cubist form. Its head is made of a tire that holds up a small sailboat body. Its shadow it enlarged onto the back wall.
Seen in black and white, in a white gallery, stands a human-like sculpture, with feet apart and arms spread out in front, made of metal in cubist form. Its head is made of a tire that holds up a small sailboat body. Its complex, angular body juxtaposes the barren white walls of the gallery.
Seen in black and white, a metal cutout of a human figure stands, its limbs jut out straight and its head rounds with a hole in the centre. Its base is made of a half circle, and at its front stands a smaller grid sheet. The head’s shadow reflects twice on the two back walls, creating three heads.
Seen in black and white, a sculpture made of wooden planks and sticks imitates a standing fan. The planks make up the body while the wooden sticks are organized in a cone form, reminiscent of a broom’s end.
Seen in black and white, a person looks through a sculpture imitating a camera obscura. From its sides, long vinyl drapes down, and its top replicates a plunger through which one can look.

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Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.

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