Mark Khaisman
Encyclopedia
Mark Khaisman approaches image making as a formal exercise. Works are made on the light easel by applying layers of translucent packing tape on clear Plexiglas panels. Tape is used as the most direct way of manipulating light. Subjects often borrowed from art history, old movies, 20th century propaganda art, and own photographs.
Mark Khaisman treasures the alchemy whereby a commonplace material is transformed into a fine art medium. This enables him to deconstruct the hierarchy of culture by filtering it through association with mundane material.
His technique involves layering and intersecting, while doing it, he is contemplating on the layering and intersecting of universal and personal meanings and memories.
People react to his tapes because it talks to them on many levels, starting from the very basic level of tactile feeling – almost everyone had hold this tape in their hands, and is familiar with the sensation of striking a line with it. Many may almost had felt it and hear the sound of adhesive being pulled off the roll. And then he builds on it.
Mark Khaisman adds the images, which are as familiar as the material itself. His tapes are about recognition: recognition of a tactile sensation, recognition of an image, recognition of a memory. They are very much play-it-again; it is the very essence of his work.
When he works on the image, he tries to keep it on that edge of almost falling apart, so that an eye of a viewer is given the challenge of assembling it in a recognizable shape. And after the first moment of visual recognition, the joy of a memory’s recognition could come.
On his conceptual architecture an art projects he was teaming with Lev Evzovitch, who later formed well known art group AES+F. In 1989 Khaisman moved to US, where he worked as stained glass designer and architect. In 2004 he developed his very own technique, which brought him to world recognition.
The technique is as simple as it is amazing. He uses layers of translucent brown tape on backlit Plexiglas panels to create dramatic illuminations.
Mark Khaisman treasures the alchemy whereby a commonplace material is transformed into a fine art medium. This enables him to deconstruct the hierarchy of culture by filtering it through association with mundane material.
His technique involves layering and intersecting, while doing it, he is contemplating on the layering and intersecting of universal and personal meanings and memories.
People react to his tapes because it talks to them on many levels, starting from the very basic level of tactile feeling – almost everyone had hold this tape in their hands, and is familiar with the sensation of striking a line with it. Many may almost had felt it and hear the sound of adhesive being pulled off the roll. And then he builds on it.
Mark Khaisman adds the images, which are as familiar as the material itself. His tapes are about recognition: recognition of a tactile sensation, recognition of an image, recognition of a memory. They are very much play-it-again; it is the very essence of his work.
When he works on the image, he tries to keep it on that edge of almost falling apart, so that an eye of a viewer is given the challenge of assembling it in a recognizable shape. And after the first moment of visual recognition, the joy of a memory’s recognition could come.
Biography
Mark Khaisman (Kiev, Ukraine, 1958) studied Art and Architecture in Moscow Architectural Institute (1982). While in college he participated in number of international conceptual architecture competitions. In 1983, he was accepted as the member at Moscow Artist Association, and from 1983 to 1989 he worked as the member at State Animation Studio as the art director for seven puppet animation movies.On his conceptual architecture an art projects he was teaming with Lev Evzovitch, who later formed well known art group AES+F. In 1989 Khaisman moved to US, where he worked as stained glass designer and architect. In 2004 he developed his very own technique, which brought him to world recognition.
The technique is as simple as it is amazing. He uses layers of translucent brown tape on backlit Plexiglas panels to create dramatic illuminations.
Solo Exhibitions
- 2011
- LIKENESS OF A LIKENESS, Gallery at Penn College, Williamsport, PA
- 2010
- AS IF ITS REAL..., Absolute Art Space, Barcelona, Spain http://www.absoluteartspace.com/en/mark-khaisman-as-if-its-real.html
- FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, USA http://www.phillymag.com/arts_events/event/from_russia_with_love091710
- 2009
- ASSUMING A POSTURE, Urb an Outfitters Inc, Philadelphia, USA http://cheekmagazine.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/khaisman-proves-tape-can-be-beautiful/
- TAPEworks, Duke Gallery, Wallingford Art Center, Philadelphia, USA
- INTRAspective, Gallery Area 919, Philadelphia, USA http://www.area919.com/art/show/8/
- TAPE NOIR, Philadelphia, International Airport, Philadelphia, USA
- CHALLENGE, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, USA http://www.fleisher.org/about/press/?item=2008-12-10&PHPSESSID=3ed6544a9609c3903e433aea662598a7
- 2008
- STRIKING A POSE, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, USA
- 2007
- GRAB THE TREASURE AND RUN, Crane Art Building, Philadelphia, USA
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2011
- BERLINER LISTE 2011, Contemporary Art Fair, Berlin, Germany
- EXTREME MATERIALS 2, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
- REPETITION, Rowan University Art Gallery, Glassboro, NJ
- PULSE NEW YORK 2011, Contemporary Art Fair, New York
- ART MADRID 2011, Contemporary Art Fair, Madrid, Spain
- 2010
- ST-ART 2010, Contemporary Art Fair, Strasbourg, France
- DECONSTRUCTED TOOLS, Design Philadelphia Week, Philadelphia, USA http://twoonefivemagazine.com/features_detail.cfm/feature/359/undefined
- Hidden Heroes. The Genius of Everyday Things, Buckminster Fuller Dome
- Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany
- MIRROR MIRROR, BYU Museum of Art, Proto, UT, USA http://mirrormirror.byu.edu/
- 2009
- 13 MONTH, Gallery Area 919, Philadelphia, USA http://www.area919.com/art/show/10/
- BORDERS, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, USA http://jamesolivergallery.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
- SECOND STORIES, Zolla / Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, USA
- 2008
- NATURAL SELECTION, Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, USA http://www.mdartplace.org/exhibitions/past/2008/naturalselection_2008.html
- 2007
- VACANT, Felicity R. Benoliel Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
- 23 DEGREES, Icebox in Crane Art Building, Philadelphia, USA http://www.cranearts.com/?s=khaisman
- FLICKER, Tower Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
- EN MASSE, Felicity R. Benoliel Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
- FEVER PITCH, Delaware Museum of Art, Wilmington, USA
- 2006
- BLUSH, Bambi Gallery, Philadelphia
- RIP, RIG, AND PANIC, Three Artist Show at Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
- GOOD THINGS ... SMALL PACKAGES, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Philadelphia, USA
- INTRODUCTION ’06, Moore College of Art + Design, Philadelphia, USA
- 2005
- MEAT BALL. Annual Invitational Show, Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, USA
- ART ENDURES, Main Line Art Center, Philadelphia, USA
Awards
- D&AD Awards 2009 Winner in Illustration
- NYF 2009 Print Bronze
- CLIO Awards 2009 Print Bronze
- RED DOT DESIGN AWARD 2008 Best of the Best
- EPICA Awards 2008 Press & Poster Silver
- CANNES LIONS 2008 Design Silver
- CFEVA Fellowship 2006–2007
- International Animation Film Festival 1988 Best Art Director Prize, Paris, France
- OISTT competition “The Tour Theatre” 1986 Second Prize, Stockholm, Sweden
- UNESCO “Rehabilitation of a Decayed Urban Environment” 1982 Third Prize, Poland
- World Architectural Biennale “The New Urban Space” 1980 Second Prize, Bulgaria
Fairs
- 2011 Berliner Liste, Absolute Art Space, Berlin, Germany
- 2011 PULSE NY, Pentimenti Gallery, New York, USA
- 2011 Art Madrid, Absolute Art Space, Madrid, Spain
- 2010 ST-ART, Absolute Art Space, Strasbourg, France
Collections
- Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany
- Annenberg Center Collection, Philadelphia, USA
- British Airline Collection, Philadelphia, USA
- Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, USA
- Greene Collection, New York, USA
- Pincus Collection, Philadelphia, USA
- Harris Collection, Philadelphia, USA
- West Collection, Philadelphia, USA http://westcollection.org/index.php
- Brandywine Collection, Philadelphia, USA
- Wooster Collective, New York, USA
- Kossmann Collection, Warszawa, Poland