Passengers is a fluid exhibition in which viewers can witness a continuous movement of contemporary art. The exhibition began in July, 2007 with 12 revolving artists and is presently on Round 2 with 12 more. One artist is featured, and then removed and replaced by another artist. Therefore, each few weeks, the exhibition is altered. Roman Ondák is the featured artist until June 28. His work [not shown here] references Gordon Matta-Clark in relation to its architectural "cuts."
There is also a sense of playfulness to his way of responding to the architectural site.

Passengers is designed to reflect how exhibitions contextualize art, creating a way for the viewer to see how shifts in the placement and focus of the works affect their reading. The exhibition also includes time as art "conditions" and alludes to how it reacts with the works. Peter Coffin’s work is especially appropriate in this show. Responding to evolution and interaction: his developing tableaux of blue objects is activated by viewers being allowed to add their own blue object to it.

Tino Seghal is not included in the exhibition but is incorporated into it, in the form of evolving performances by gallery assistants. When I was there, she sang a few lines by Peter Coffin’s work.



The exhibition leaves this viewer unmoored: floating from one work to the other. Without a tightened curatorial framework, the viewer can respond more autonomously. There is a sense of empowerment in the process of moving through the exhibition, and a feeling that the viewer's presence is an inherent aspect. The light curatorial touch makes the space feel more "public" than usual and invites frequent visits.

- laurie halsey brown

(*Images, from top to bottom: “Passengers 1, 2, 3”, 2008, images courtesy of CCA Wattis Institute of the Arts.)