Quicksand III

After immersed himself in the alternative Fluxus movement in the 60s and 70s and having run the gamut of the issues of painting and photos in the 80s and 90s, John M Armleder never stopped updating his methods. His various works as sculptor, performer, archivist, curator, collector, editor, bookseller, gallery owner (and more) are today displayed freely in the form of large installations that are a combination of salvaged objects and abstract paintings, or furtive interventions offering participatory experiences.

Quicksand III, as its name suggests, is the third version of an installation made up of workshop shelving. These shelves, taken from the former Citroën garage, are full of “caught-in-the middle” objects: materials used by the artist, objects from his archives, items salvaged on site. The composition of this space that is both a depot and work of art, deliberately lends it an air of abandonment, y questioning through allusion the impermanence and mutation of things and functions, reminiscent of the history of the artist and that of the location. Quicksand III is in fact one of the most important productions of the It never ends exhibition, a wonderful invitation to explore the universe of John M. Armleder, launched in 2020 and 2021 by the KANAL Foundation.