Suplex Presents: Three Exhibitions
Suplex isn’t a name I’ve heard of before. I’m not alone in this. Therefore, seeing an event at this new place meant I knew I had to go. I read the description of their Facebook event but was quite unprepared. “Transforming a previously abandoned location in Houston, each artist will activate the space through site-specific installations, performances, and artworks. “Three Exhibitions” is inspired by socially engaging participatory performance in contemporary art and an impulse to respond to those histories within the context of Houston. ”
Parking behind the building, I walked toward what I figured would be the front door. However, a well dressed, young lady was walking toward me from where i thought I was going. “Where’s the front door”, I asked. She responded that she didn’t know. We therefore continued back to where she came from, turned the corner and I looked up. “Oh this is great”, I said. She looked at me funny and I had to explain that ‘THIS’ was ‘IT’.
The art show was external to the building, not internal. It consisted of a large banner exclaiming, “THE SHOW IS OVER… THE SHOW IS OVER…” with some wall text and folded posters in a box like you’ve seen in front of houses for sale.
Ponder all this and, if you’re with me, you’ll see this as an innovative, risky, captivating work of art. Please get on board for this. Their next event will actually be ‘inside’ the building!
There wasn’t anything for sale. The only piece was a poster and you could take one for free.
(All photos by Matt Adams.)
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- Poster, 24″ x 18″, free
This rings back to my days (circa 1964) that intended to shock people … my idea was to hold an exhibition in an empty swimming pool with the large pieces in the deep end and small pieces in the shallow end. To view the exhibition would require entering the empty pool via ladder (deep end) or by steps in shallow end. For safety & liability… the diving board would be removed. Mae West life preservers would be available for “non-swimmers”! Pool toys and/or floats were optional. My own participation would include me sitting in a lawn chair drinking Dr. Pepper, and observing the audience. This notion/idea came to me without chemical aids or alcoholic beverage.