John Neff Prints Robert Blanchon
May 18 - June 25, 2011
Chicago
John Neff Prints Robert Blanchon will revolve around Blanchon's 1995 photo-based conceptual work Untitled (aroma / 1981), itself a collection of advertisements for queer sex products selected by Blanchon from pre-AIDS gay publications.
As unfixed sepia prints, the artwork was intended to be printed - and slowly fade away - with every showing. Since Blanchon's death in 1999, the negatives he made for Untitled (aroma / 1981) have disappeared; however, an assortment of the supposedly ephemeral prints (crafted in the 2000's for a catalogue) survives.
In this two stage exhibition, Neff will first display the posthumously printed components of Untitled (aroma /1981) and then, within the gallery space, use those remnants to recreate negative transparencies and - this time unfixed and sure to fade - sepia prints.
Additional components of the exhibition include Blanchon's 1998 Untitled (drawing horse), a copy-and-print stand by Neff based on that sculpture and a modified, limited edition, bookwork altering the Robert Blanchon catalog published by Visual AIDS in 2006. This artwork continues to develop as Neff maintains a correspondence practice, continuing to mail additions to the each subscriber holding an edition.
John Neff made his printing publicly available on two dates during the exhibition: May 21st and 28th from 1 - 4pm.
Claudine Ise, ArtForum, 2011.
Lauren Weinberg, Time Out Chicago, 2011.
Jason Foumberg, NewCity Art, 2011.
Julia V. Hendrickson, Printeresting, 2011.
Robert Blanchon, Untitled (aroma / 1981), 1995, Van Dyke prints on vellum, Dimensions variable.
Installation view
John Neff, Copy stand and exposure unit from John Neff Prints Robert Blanchon, 2011, Glass, steel, camera, UV lights, electrical wiring, 53.5 x 52 x 16 inches.
Robert Blanchon, Untitled (aroma / 1981) (detail), 1995, Van Dyke prints on vellum, Dimensions variable.
Robert Blanchon, Untitled (aroma / 1981) (detail), 1995, Van Dyke prints on vellum, Dimensions variable.
Robert Blanchon, Untitled (drawing horse), 1998, Tempered glass, silicone adhesive, 33.5 x 16 x 15 inches.
Installation view
Pins on gallery's east wall awaiting Neff's unfixed prints from Robert Blanchon's Untitled (aroma / 1981)
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
John Neff, Preparatory image for the presentation of Untitled (aroma / 1981), 2011, digital image
John Neff, Scraps from Blanchon (Sex w/ Hypnosis), 2011, Cyanotype with stapled acetate negative, 9.5 x 6.25 inches, Unique.
John Neff, Scraps from Blanchon (Bolt), 2011, Chemcially faded cyanotype with stapled acetate negative, 8.25 x 6.25 inches, Unique.
John Neff, Scraps for Blanchon (Really Intense Rise, w/ Paperclips), 2011, Chemically faded cyanotype with stapled acetate negative and paper clips, 8.5 x 6 inches, Unique.
John Neff, Blueprints for a Presentation of Untitled (aroma / 1981), 2011, Cyanotypes and negatives in presentation binder, Edition of 5.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
John Neff, Robert Blanchon (edited by Tania Duvergne and Amy Sadao), 2011, Catalogue with additions and alterations (ongoing project), Edition of 20.
