Dan Graham: Theatre

Lisson Gallery presents a major survey exhibition of work by American artist Dan Graham. Theatre brings together works that illustrate Graham’s diverse practice throughout his career; from the early performances to photography and the influential pavilions, including his architectural drawings and models.

The exhibition presents photographic, video and audio documentation of seminal early performances such as Like, 1969, Lax / Relax, 1969-1995, and Past Future Split Attention, 1972. Theatre also features architectural drawings and photographs that, across decades, have documented American vernacular suburban architecture. Architectural drawings and photographs accompany four of Graham’s models for pavilions, visionary works that bridge his interest and understanding of architecture, pop sculpture and visitor interaction and experience within the exhibition space. Two of the models on show were never realised, but maintain their visionary charge, conceptual clarity and sculptural beauty: Model for Swimming Pool/Fish Pond, 1997 and Model for Portal, 1997. Model for Ying Yang Pavilion, 1991 and a new model for the Novartis Campus Pavilion, 2009, are accompanied by videos documenting the pavilions, installed in public settings.

The exhibition at Lisson Gallery coincides with Dan Graham’s first touring retrospective exhibition in the United States, which opened at LA MOCA, Los Angeles, on 15 February 2009. Dan Graham: Beyond will travel to the Whitney Museum, New York (25 June – 11 October) and then to the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (November 2009 - Spring 2010). In addition, Graham’s Waterloo Sunset, 2002-03 is on permanent display at the Hayward Gallery. The pavilion, conceived as a ‘drop in centre for children and old people and a space for viewing cartoons’, is a place for social interaction, learning and fun.