Jonathan Muecke

Open Objects

CHICAGO— Volume Gallery launches its fourth series with a collection of new works from Jonathan Muecke, titled Open Objects. Opening reception on April 30 from 6-8PM, Chicago, IL.

Open Objects represents Jonathan Muecke’s first solo exhibition, comprised of eight objects. The individual objects designed for Volume Gallery, were developed independent of each other. Rather than a collection, Muecke considers each object its own project, the result being that each object is consistent to its counterparts only in its potential – “a quality that is itself immeasurable”.

Leaving all to interpretation, Open Objects is a comprehensive study of each object’s unique qualities, and dissection of their definition. Muecke’s projects are a reflection of the common forms of design and continue to study the meta-object. His projects demand examination. It is within this confrontation, between viewer and object, that development of new thought on functionality and materiality lives. Utilizing materials such as coal slag, glass sand, carbon fiber and gold foil, each piece removes our limitations of understanding and encourages the viewer to engage and interact, rather than react to the object.

“Principally, objects present limits– figured in function/process/material/form/idea and so on. In this case objects are measured to each variable and equally fixed in the variables. In this normal and productive way objects are figured backwards. My interest is going forward – remaining inconclusive to the terms of measurement. In this way potential remains in an object.”

Jonathan Muecke operates around the edge of design; he emphasizes each object’s conceptual purpose and universal meaning. Open Objects is his continual practice to un-define objects while defining something larger. Each object is restrained and composed in design, raw and visionary in intent. Each project in Open Objects is firmly tied together with the strong visual language that is inimitable, unique and undeniable.

  • Volume 4
  • at Volume Gallery
  • April 30 - May 15, 2011