Leopardi, Giacomo. III. Dialogo della Moda e della Morte. [Febbraio 15 – 18, 1824]. L’Operette Morali. 1827;
memory is blue in the head? heads are easily taken off. (1)
Genesis Belanger, Noah Furman, Vanessa Gully-Santiago, Harris Johnson, Lior Modan, H.B. Peace, Deirdre Sargent,
and a selection of Japanese Boro textiles.
Curated by Alan Longino
September 12-October 25, 2015
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 19, 7-9pm
Dear Friends,
In 1665, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Lawrence, decreed that all bodies be buried at least six feet below ground in order to prevent further spread of infection from the Black Plague.
This law—due to the time required for proper digging—quickly fell out of favor in England and its territories.
Today, though it varies between states, the minimum depth of soil to be laid upon a body is 18 inches.
In 1667, the modern art salon of Paris—now morphed into the contemporary art fair—was initiated by Louis XIV.
Such salons, which began as annual events, quickly fell into the rhythm of shows, particularly fashion shows, that occurred every six months.
Today, alas!, six months is made paltry for the accommodation of it all.
Six feet. Six months. The common denominator between 1665 and 1667: 666.
Supposedly the number of the devil. It would be better, today, to think of it as the number of Lucifer.
For Roger Caillois, Lucifer, as his name suggests, was the "demon or angel of Lucidity."
Perhaps in the morass and rapacity of it all—between such great death and grand shows of creation—there is no blinding light or suffocating barrage, but a grasp on the mechanic purity of life.
Please join us September 19th, 2015, at Peninsula, 7—9 PM, for the opening of a show in concert with fashion and death.
Yours,
P