Jimmie Durham
Encyclopedia
Jimmie Durham is an American-born sculptor
, essay
ist and poet
, currently living in Europe.
and became active in theatre, performance and literature related to the US civil rights movement in the 1960s. His first solo exhibition as a visual artist was in Austin, Texas in 1965. Durham moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1968. He studied at L'École des Beaux-Arts, Geneva until being drawn back to the US in 1973 through his involvement with the American Indian Movement
(AIM). From 1973 until 1980 Durham worked as a political organizer with AIM, becoming a member of the movement’s Central Council. He also served as director of the International Indian Treaty Council and representative to the United Nations
. When AIM fragmented at the end of the 1970s Durham, who was then living in New York City
, returned his attention to art, creating sculptures that radically challenged conventional representations of North American Indians. He exhibited and published essays frequently and from 1981 to 1983 he was the director of the Foundation for the Community of Artists in New York. In 1983 West End Press published Columbus Day, a book of his poems and in 1988 his poetry was also included in Harper’s Anthology of 20th Century Native American Poetry.
In 1987 Durham moved to Cuernavaca
, Mexico, where he was based until moving to Europe in 1994. During his time in Mexico, Durham exhibited widely, including at the Whitney Biennial
, documenta IX
, Institute of Contemporary Arts
, London, Exit Art
, the Museum of Modern Art, Antwerp
and the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. He also published a number of essays in books and periodicals, including Art Forum, Art Journal (CAA)
and Third Text
. In 1993 a collection of his essays, A Certain Lack of Coherence, was published by Kala Press.
Since moving to Europe, Durham’s work has focused primarily on the relationship between architecture, monumentality and national narratives. His anti-architectural sculptures, performances and videos seek to liberate architecture’s privileged material, stone, from its metaphorical associations with monumentality, stability and permanence. His exhibitions in Europe have included venues such as the Hamburg Kunstverein, FRAC in Reims, Wittgenstein Haus in Vienna, Kunstverein Munich, and the Venice Biennale
, among many others. In 2005 Durham co-curated The American West, an attack on cowboy and Indian mythology, at Compton Verney
, UK. In 2010 Durham presented his Rocks Encouraged in the Portikus
exhibition hall in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
.
In 1995 Phaidon published Jimmie Durham, a comprehensive survey of his art, with contributions by Laura Mulvey
, Dirk Snauwaert, and Mark Alice Durant. In 2009, with a retrospective exhibition Pierre Rejetées... at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (France), a catalogue was published (see bibliography).
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
ist and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, currently living in Europe.
Life and work
Durham was born in Washington, ArkansasWashington, Arkansas
Washington is a city in Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 148 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area.The city is also home to Old Washington Historic State Park....
and became active in theatre, performance and literature related to the US civil rights movement in the 1960s. His first solo exhibition as a visual artist was in Austin, Texas in 1965. Durham moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1968. He studied at L'École des Beaux-Arts, Geneva until being drawn back to the US in 1973 through his involvement with the American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...
(AIM). From 1973 until 1980 Durham worked as a political organizer with AIM, becoming a member of the movement’s Central Council. He also served as director of the International Indian Treaty Council and representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. When AIM fragmented at the end of the 1970s Durham, who was then living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, returned his attention to art, creating sculptures that radically challenged conventional representations of North American Indians. He exhibited and published essays frequently and from 1981 to 1983 he was the director of the Foundation for the Community of Artists in New York. In 1983 West End Press published Columbus Day, a book of his poems and in 1988 his poetry was also included in Harper’s Anthology of 20th Century Native American Poetry.
In 1987 Durham moved to Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Mexico, where he was based until moving to Europe in 1994. During his time in Mexico, Durham exhibited widely, including at the Whitney Biennial
Whitney Biennial
The Whitney Biennial is a biennale exhibition of contemporary American art, typically by young and lesser known artists, on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, USA. The event began as an annual exhibition in 1932, the first biennial was in 1973...
, documenta IX
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
, Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
, London, Exit Art
Exit Art
Exit Art is a non-profit cultural center established in 1982. Located in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, United States, the two-story gallery exhibits contemporary visual art, installation, video, theater, and performance....
, the Museum of Modern Art, Antwerp
Museum of Modern Art, Antwerp
The Museum of Modern Art in Antwerp is the contemporary art museum of the city of Antwerp, Belgium, and it is one of the most important art museums in Belgium...
and the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels. He also published a number of essays in books and periodicals, including Art Forum, Art Journal (CAA)
Art Journal (CAA)
Art Journal, established in New York in 1941, is a publication of the College Art Association of America . As a peer-reviewed, professionally moderated scholarly journal, its concentrations include:...
and Third Text
Third Text
Third Text is a bimonthly academic journal on art in global context. After founder and editor Rasheed Araeen's earlier art magazine Black Phoenix, started in 1978, published only three issues, it was relaunched as a theoretical art journal in 1987...
. In 1993 a collection of his essays, A Certain Lack of Coherence, was published by Kala Press.
Since moving to Europe, Durham’s work has focused primarily on the relationship between architecture, monumentality and national narratives. His anti-architectural sculptures, performances and videos seek to liberate architecture’s privileged material, stone, from its metaphorical associations with monumentality, stability and permanence. His exhibitions in Europe have included venues such as the Hamburg Kunstverein, FRAC in Reims, Wittgenstein Haus in Vienna, Kunstverein Munich, and the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, among many others. In 2005 Durham co-curated The American West, an attack on cowboy and Indian mythology, at Compton Verney
Compton Verney
Compton Verney is a manor and parish in the county of Warwickshire, England.Compton Verney House is an 18th century country mansion which has been converted into an art gallery....
, UK. In 2010 Durham presented his Rocks Encouraged in the Portikus
Portikus
Portikus is an exhibition hall for contemporary art in Frankfurt am Main, originally founded in 1987 through the initiation of Kasper König, one of the most influential living curators of contemporary art. It's name derives from the surviving portico of the Stadtbibliothek from 1825 that was...
exhibition hall in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1995 Phaidon published Jimmie Durham, a comprehensive survey of his art, with contributions by Laura Mulvey
Laura Mulvey
Laura Mulvey is a British feminist film theorist. She was educated at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She is currently professor of film and media studies at Birkbeck, University of London...
, Dirk Snauwaert, and Mark Alice Durant. In 2009, with a retrospective exhibition Pierre Rejetées... at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (France), a catalogue was published (see bibliography).
External links
- Lucy Lippard, Jimmie Durham: Postmodernist Savage, Art In America from FindArticles.com
- Jimmie Durham on ArtFacts.net
- Images, texts and biography from the Saatchi Gallery
- Jimmie Durham represented by Galerie Michel Rein
- Jimmie Durham represented by Christine Koenig Gallery
- Jimmie Durham represented by Kurimanzutto Gallery
- Jimmie Durham represented by Franco Soffiantino Gallery
- EXHIBITIONS AT RADIOARTEMOBILE (ROME)http://www.radioartemobile.it
- Critique de l'exposition Pierres rejetées, au Musée d'art moderne de la ville de Paris, sur paris-art.com, in French
- Jimmie Durham on culturbase.net
- Artist’s Portrait : Jimmie Durham, by Johannes Schlebrügge (Museum in Progress, 2000) http://www.mip.at/attachments/241