In Light: Francis Alÿs

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

The Last Clown, 2000, is an endless animated loop by the Belgian artist Francis Alÿs. Set to the music of Charles Mingus, a man strolls along a path, lost in his thoughts. A pratfall and a glance over his shoulder elicit laughter, after which he returns to his private world.

IN LIGHT

The Art Gallery of Ontario is proud to highlight the importance of video art. Beginning April 6, 2002 and running until April 4, 2004, an exhibition series entitled In Light will present video installations by eight contemporary artists. This two-year series features recent video works by Canadian and international artists who were selected for their unique approaches to the medium and its elaboration of themes identified with their individual practices.

The AGO's commitment to video has been seen through previous exhibitions, such as Video Primer and Ecstatic Memory. The AGO has made a priority of presenting ongoing video exhibitions and introducing visitors to this ever-evolving art form.

Based on technologies that have only existed since the mid-1960s, video art does not have the lengthy genealogy that informs our understanding of more traditional artistic media. With large-scale video projections, however, the artists in In Light make strong connections to the pictorial traditions of fine art, with added dimensions of movement, luminosity and acoustic space. Video is an experiential medium that unfolds as you watch. Each artist in the In Light series will use continuous DVD projection to present a single work that will be on view for a 12-week duration.

Euan Macdonald: April 6 to June 30, 2002
Louise Noguchi: July 6 to September 29, 2002
Mark Wallinger: October 5, 2002 to January 5, 2003
Seth Price: January 11 to April 6, 2003
Darren Almond: April 9 to July 6, 2003
Francis Alys: July 12 to October 5, 2003
Stacey Lancaster: October 11, 2003 to January 4, 2004
Daniel Olson: January 10 to April 4, 2004