Bruce Nauman: Topological Gardens

Topological Gardens
Exhibition Sites
Bruce Nauman
Visitor Information

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La Biennale di Venezia
Supporters of the Exhibition
Fabrication and Production

Catalogue
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Nauman in Philadelphia

U.S. Pavilion
Università IUAV

Ca' Foscari

Works on view
Installation shots

Exhibition Spaces at Università Ca' Foscari

Entrance to Università Ca’ Foscari Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art © Michele Lamanna 2009

At the Exhibition Spaces of Ca' Foscari, a circular logic links the concepts of Sound and Space with the spiraling movement of Flayed Earth, Flayed Skin (Skin Sink) (1973), Smoke Rings (Model for Underground Tunnels) 1979—80, and the turning camera over the dancers featured in Untitled 1970/2009—a work that was recreated for the exhibition in the same room in which it is installed. Surveillance combines with sound in Sound for Mapping the Studio (The Video) (2001) and Audio Video Piece for London, Ontario (1969-70). The desire to access a space that is both offered and denied is experienced in Double Steel Cage Piece (1974). Fountains and Neons are seen in My Name As Though It Were Written on the Surface of the Moon (1968) and Heads and Hands are brightly asserted in Human Sexual Experience (1985). Untitled (Hand Circle)(1996) is eerily suspended from the ceiling, echoing Untitled (358) (1986), which is made from shadow templates Nauman used to create many of his neons of the 1980s.

Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia is renowned for its exquisite Venetian Gothic architecture and its beautiful views of the Grand Canal, spanning the Rialto Bridge to the Accademia galleries. Commissioned by Doge Francesco Foscari and designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1452, the palazzo was converted into the prestigious Università Ca' Foscari in 1868. Today Ca' Foscari has nineteen academic departments, seventeen research centers, and numerous partnerships with Venetian cultural and scientific institutions.Topological Gardens will be located on the first and second floors (piano terra and primo piano) of the Ca' Foscari complex; for more information on Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia, www.unive.it

Bruce Nauman: Topological Gardens will be on view at the Exhibition Space at Università Ca' Foscari from June 7 through October 18, 2009.

Vistor Information

Exhibition Spaces at Università Ca’ Foscari
Calle Foscari 3334

June 7–October 18, 2009
Wednesday–Monday, 10:00–18:00; Tuesday closed

Vaporetto Stops:
S. Toma: 1, 2
Ca’ Rezzonico: 1

Vaporetto to IUAV/Tolentini: 1, 2
(within walking distance)
Vaporetto to the U.S. Pavilion: 1, 2

	Audio Video Piece for London, Ontario 1969–70 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Video camera, oscillating mount, video monitor, audio file player, amplifiers, speakers, repeating continuously Dimensions variable Collection Donald Young, Chicago © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Double Steel Cage Piece 1974 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Steel 81 1/16 x 154 5/16 x 204 3/4 inches (206 x 392 x 520 cm) Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Purchase 1980 © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Flayed Earth Flayed Self (Skin Sink) 1973 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Tape and text Dimensions variable Friedrich Christian Flick Collection © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Giorni 2009 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Audio (fourteen channels) 14 minutes, 28 seconds; continuous play One audio source consisting of one audio file, fourteen speakers, two amplifiers, and additional equipment Dimensions variable Courtesy Sperone Westwater, New York © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York The voices that comprise this sound installation were recorded in Venice in June, 2008 at Waterland Music Recording Studio. Production credits: Sound Engineer: Cristiano Verardo Project Coordinator: Eleonora Charans Participants in recording: Valentina Barboni, Laura Bruni, Daria Carmi, Marco de Michelis, Francesco Perrone, Tommaso Speretta, Daniele Zoico

	Human Sexual Experience 1985 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Neon tubing on aluminum monolith 17 x 23 x 9 1/2 inches (43.2 x 58.4 x 24.1 cm) Marc and Livia Straus Family Collection Exhibition copy © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	My Name As Though It Were Written on the Surface of the Moon 1968 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Neon tubing with clear glass tubing suspension frame 11 x 204 x 2 inches (27.9 x 518.2 x 5.1 cm) Exhibition copy (2005), produced with permission of the artist and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. The original (1968) is in the collection of the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	None Sing Neon Sign 1970 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Ruby-red and cool-white neon 13 x 24 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches (33 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm) overall Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Panza Collection, 1991. 91.3825 © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Smoke Rings (Model for Underground Tunnels) 1979–80 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Assemblage comprised of two sculptures: the first of eight parts of white plaster, the second of eight parts of green plaster, both resting on wooden mounts Diameter 133 7/8 inches (340 cm) each assemblage Centre Georges Pompidou, National Museum of Modern Art – Center for Industrial Creation, Paris. Purchased 1985. AM1985-140 © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Sound for Mapping the Studio Model (The Video) 2001 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Single-channel video (color, sound), 1 hour, 1 minute, 20 seconds Edition 3 of 6 CIAC: Colección Isabel y Agustín Coppel © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Untitled (#358) 1986 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Foamcore, cardboard, wood, rope, and paint 55 1/8 x 68 7/8 x 76 3/4 inches (140 x 175 x 195 cm) Collection Dorothee and Konrad Fischer © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

	Untitled 1970/2009 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Video (color, stereo sound), continuous play One video source, two video projectors, one stereo amplifier, two stereo speakers, 15 x 15 foot (4.6 x 4.6 m) rubber mat, tape Dimensions variable Courtesy Sperone Westwater, New York © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York This performance was conducted and recorded in February 2009, in the same room at the Exhibition Spaces at Università Ca’ Foscari as it is installed in Topological Gardens. Production credits: Director: Massimo Magrì Assistant to the Director: Federica De Rocco Production: Alberto Osella & Partners Technical support: Movie People Dancers: Carlotta Borasco, Elena Dell’Acqua, Irene Giubilini, and Monica Soccol Choreographer: Silvia Salvagno

	Untitled (Hand Circle) 1996 Bruce Nauman American, born 1941 Phosphorus-patinated bronze with wire Edition 3 of 9 Height 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm); diameter 27 inches (68.6 cm) Indianapolis Museum of Art. Henry F. and Katherine DeBoest Memorial Fund and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crane Fund, 1996.248 © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Installation shot of Bruce Nauman, Double Steel Cage Piece,1974.Steel.Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Purchase 1980 © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Installation shot of Bruce Nauman, Untitled, 1970/2009. Video (color, stereo sound); continuous play. One video source, 2 video projectors, 2 speakers, rubber mat, tape. Courtesy Sperone Westwater, New York © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Installation shot of an exhibition copy of Bruce Nauman Human Sexual Experience, 1985. Neon tubing on aluminum monolith Marc and Livia Straus Family Collection © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Installation shot of Bruce Nauman, Smoke Rings (Model for Underground Tunnels), 1979–80. Assemblage comprised of two sculptures: the first of eight parts of white plaster, the second of eight parts of green plaster, both resting on wooden mounts. Centre Georges Pompidou, National Museum of Modern Art – Center for Industrial Creation, Paris. Purchased 1985. AM1985-140 Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Installation shot of Bruce Nauman Audio Video Piece for London, Ontario, 1969–70. Video camera, oscillating mount, video monitor, audio file player, amplifiers, speakers, repeating continuously. Collection Donald Young, Chicago Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Installation shot of Bruce Nauman, None Sing Neon Sign, 1970. Ruby-red and cool-white neon. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Panza Collection, 1991. 91.3825 Photo credit: Michele Lamanna, courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art © 2009 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.