Tal R Artist Talk

: this is not Detroit is a solo exhibition by the Copenhagen-based artist Tal R. The intricate, multipart installation manifests the artist’s fantasy of Detroit, acting as a meditation on dream places, identity, and whimsy. Seven large-scale paintings, rendered in a rich and moody palate of blues, depict the artist’s vision of specific Detroit neighborhoods he has never visited. The abstract works use primitive shapes and symbols to investigate the visual language of displacement and place. Waves, ships, and city buildings, drawn with short energetic brushstrokes, populate these insular worlds. The formal, hard-edged palette suggests that this fantasy world is perhaps sturdier than the one we can see around us. These unique imaginings invite viewers to reflect on Detroit as a place, and as an idea - a parallel dream space.
For the exhibition, Tal R has created a one-of- a-kind, 52-page Detroit newspaper, which will be distributed to the public at the exhibition. Reminiscent of Kafka’s Amerikka-his novel written about America, from Europe-: this is not Detroit is Tal R’s sincere investigation of American iconography from his studio in Denmark. All works in the show, including the paintings, will be completed in Detroit, at MOCAD, as part of the artist’s immersion in the space. The newspaper will comprise a physical element in the show, displayed beside a papier-mâché wall in the gallery.

[@benksy96]

the presenter won't shut up. i came here for tal r.

[@dirteeoldmen]

I tuned in cause Tal is always on point vocalizing the process.

[@lisengel2498]

Great questions and great to listen to the reflections of Tal R on art and his processes of making art and the importance of lived experience of a place - and I do believe that the paint speak both when wet and when dry so I believe that the painting process is a kind of dialogue - and I also think that a good painting is inviting you to go into states of feeling-thinking-dreaming-dialoguing- and it opens into the unknown of true presence

[@lisengel2498]

Tal R ends this show with the phrase “I will do anything to let the painting happen “ - i believe that this is the essense and the honesty of the art process - to be present and open to what happens -

[@davidbenwhite9645]

Fantastic conversation. Thank you!

[@NigelBanks]

I've just discovered Tal - happily absorbing his outrageously orthogonal and insightful perspectives on everything Art (cheerfully capitalised because Terry Myers believes it should not be so)

[@SoopSoopa]

presenter loves to hear himself talk and its so annoying

[@johnjungkook2721]

The presenter is very annoying. It sounds like he's trying to teach a seminar about contemporary art to a bunch of sixteen-year olds. He's the stereotype of a certain kind of American.

[@cliffdariff74]

Not of an American, but stereotypical of a professor thank you. Tal R is typical of an artist that just rambles on and on because he’s got the money and fame... but he puts me to sleep.

[@johnjungkook2721]

​@@cliffdariff74 It is a stereotype of an American. People who think intelligence is language. Tal R is also a professor but he isn't an American stereotype.