Road Back To Relevance gives insight into the last decade of Dan Rees's practice. It brings together groups of works—paintings, videos, installations, and photography—that have never before been viewed simultaneously, and reveals the complex nature of the artist's research.
The title Road Back To Relevance refers to a slide presentation made by the artist in collaboration with an advertising strategist and designer that, by charting the course of a specific solidarity campaign between Wales and Nicaragua started in the 1980s, questions how pre-“clicktivist” modes of social engagement, activism, and international solidarity can remain relevant today. As Dieter Roelstraete writes in his essay contribution, “The work of Dan Rees touches upon a wide range of topics, subjects, and issues, but one dominant, recurring preoccupation doubtlessly concerns the politics of taste. ‘Taste'—its cultural corollaries, its political over- and undertones, and most importantly its social sources—is one of Rees's preferred problems. And where it is addressed most directly and unapologetically—that is to say, in the so-called Artex paintings—is exactly where his work becomes most willingly, egregiously ‘problematic.'”
Published following the eponymous exhibition at Nomas Foundation, Rome, from March 15 to June 10, 2016.
Dan Rees (born 1982 in Swansea, UK, lives and works in London) studied at Camberwell College Of Arts, London Institute (2001-2004) and at Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste Städelschule, Frankfurt (2007-2009).
Solo Exhibition includes: “Think Local, Act Global,” MOT International, Bruxelles, 2015; “Stimulate Surprise,” Tanya Leighton, Berlin, 2015; “Top Heavy,” T293, Rome, 2013; “High Tea,” Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, 2013; “Kelp,” The National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 2013.
Group Exhibition includes: “Atlante delle immagini e delle forme,” GAMeC, Bergamo, 2016; “By Boat (farewell),” Joségarcia, Mexico City, 2015; “I Never Lie To You,” Camberwell College of Arts, London, 2015; “Un Nouveau festival / Extension du domaine du jeu,” Espace 315 – Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2015; “THE GO-BETWEEN. A selection of emerging international artists from the Ernesto Esposito Collection,” Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, 2014.
