上帝玩艺术吗

Private view 19 November 2008 6.30 – 8.30pm

Runs from 20 November – 3 December 2008

Open Wed – Friday 12-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 11-6pm

WOLF ram is a multi-sensory work depicting the systematic destruction of a Friggebod* from within at the hands of two children.

Taking inspiration from Graham Greene’s 1954 short story The Destructors and drawing upon first hand experience of witnessing an archaic form of Swedish juvenile punishment whereby the family home of young offenders is burnt to the ground; the original source of inspiration for WOOD (his most notable work to date shown at the Wapping Project in 2006), Rogg’s new work draws a fine line between fact and fiction.

The film depicts the raw and vile beauty of the destructive act performed; demolishing the house and burning it to the ground. The children’s impassive appearance yet brutal actions raise questions about their motivation and their psychological state of mind; are they perpetrators, or are their actions those of victims taking revenge. WOLF ram provides no explanatory narrative, text or dialogue, rendering the destruction seemingly unprovoked. The film sets up a disturbing psychological drama which opens up more questions than it answers. Rogg builds the film from our experience of a culture of crime and violence surrounding us in the media, and cleverly plays with the seduction of destruction. As with much of his other work the artist investigates ‘the elements’ as a central theme.

WOLF ram will be set in a building which was once a former artist’s studio and ballroom at 5 Cromwell Place. The film creates an eerie ambience, its environment echoing many of the films themes. Sean Rogg is a young British artist who has been exhibited at The Wapping Project, Bloomberg SPACE and ICA in London, as well as part of TinaB Biennale in Prague, at Modern Art Oxford, The CCA in Tel Aviv and Artfinder Galerie in Hamburg. He currently lives and works in Stockholm.

WOLF ram is the first of a series of Off-Site works which Spring Projects will run annually, where experimental pieces by young artists are previewed.