06 DECEMBER — 13 JANUARY

ABNER PREIS
Opening reception: Thursday 6 December, 17.00 – 19.30 hrs.

Galerie Gabriel Rolt is delighted to announce the first solo show in the gallery by Israeli/American artist Abner Preis. Well-known for his surprising and socially engaged performances, Preis will present two major video works, accompanied by a selection of props used in both films. The artist's ability to portray universal issues of our post-modern contemporary society in a simple and direct way makes these works surprisingly significant.

'The Accidental Champion', a 38 minute silent film inspired by Charlie Chaplin, is the central piece of the exhibition and will premiere during the opening in the gallery. The story of this video is built around a 1920's boxing match and the journey of a young man from the wrong side of the tracks who accidentally ends up the champion of the game. Forty volunteers act − on a minimalistic, stagelike set − together with Preis, creating a contemporary collaborative gesamtkunstwerk in which the process of building a story is considered most significant. Like Chaplin, the artist questions social dogmas and subtly uncovers modern society's struggle with the rapidity of change and urge for absolute happiness. By shooting and moving in slow-motion, he manages to poetically capture this struggle with the speed of time.

Gallery Gabriel Rolt