N@N – Kyle Beal – Spectator Sports

Event Details

In his recent Nickle exhibition,  SPECTATOR SPORTS, curated by Christine Sowiak, Kyle Beal used objects and languages bound to the vernacular of contemporary life – mirrors and “selfies”, screens and platforms, along with ubiquitous flashing “open” signs – to reveal our own cultural obsessions in ways that are both witty and worrying. A wry and detailed observer, Beal’s conceptual art practice uses beautifully rendered drawings, found objects, and slickly made facsimiles to engage his audience and lead them to the complex reflections within.

When William Shakespeare penned “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” he was describing of a world in which each life was a sort of performance involving other people. He likely could not, however, have conceived of how lives are now lived online – the stage has become a relentless never-ending screen, a hall of mirrors and a ever present digital self that has no break between private and public. Beal’s SPECTATOR SPORTS responds to selfie culture, performance of identity, branding and consumerism all without judgement, rather with nuance, humour and surprise.

In this presentation, Beal will discuss SPECTATOR SPORTS in the context of his artistic practice.

Beal holds a BFA from the Alberta College of Art and Design (2001) and an MFA from the University of Victoria (2004). His work has been exhibited across Canada and the USA in Montréal, Toronto, New York City, Calgary, Saskatoon, Seattle, Vancouver and most recently Kelowna. Notably, his work was presented in the 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton) and the Esker Foundation (Calgary) among others. Beal currently lives and works in Edmonton, and is represented by VivianeArt in Calgary.

An exhibition catalogue with essay and illustrations by Jessica Campbell is available at the Nickle’s shop, Museo.

This event is offered live in-person and over ZOOM.

Meeting ID: 949 2548 5218
Passcode: Nickle

Everyone welcome