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Art Basel OVR Pioneers: Alan Rath

Past event
Online Viewing Room 24 - 27 March 2021 
  • Overview
  • Works
Overview
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Sculpture of silver box with nine black, spiraled cords, each leading to their own speaker. Mounted on a wall
Alan Rath, Wallflower II, 1990, AR.SJICA.CAT#100, aluminum, custom electronics, speakers, 60 x 86 x 12 inches
Online Viewing Room

Alan Rath, a trailblazer in the realm of electronic, robotic, and computer-generated art, has been selected for inclusion in Art Basel's upcoming online viewing room, Pioneers, based on his seminal contributions to the field. The San Francisco artist died in October 2020 at age 60 after battling a rare form of multiple sclerosis for many years.

 

From a lineage that includes Jean Tinguely and Nam June Paik, Alan Rath began in the 1980s to make sculptures with robotics and computer-generated video animations, which he designed, machined, and programmed himself. Formally elegant and meticulously crafted, yet playful and unpredictable, his leitmotif was the relationship between the mechanical/technological and the human body and behaviors.

 

Rath infuses his mechanical sculptures with life-like characteristics. LCD screens display body parts moving in algorithmically generated sequences of shifting colors, tempos, and orientation. The features portrayed are those particular to perception and expression, such as eyes, mouths, and hands. Likewise, the robotic sculptures incorporate feathers that simulate the motion of living creatures.

 

Rath has designed his works so that they go to sleep when left alone, and wake up when they sense a person in the room (via an infrared sensor). Because the imagery and robotic movements are programmed to enact a different pattern of sequences each time they are activated, each new encounter is an unpredictable experience. Although a part of us recognizes these as mediated images and mechanical movements, the essential animate qualities that Rath is able to evoke, integrated into elegantly crafted structures, impart a familiar consciousness that is at once humorous and uncanny.

 

Hosfelt Gallery's presentation of Rath's work is one of only five selected by guest curator Sabine Himmelsbach, Director of Haus der Elektronischen Künste, for a VIP Zoom walk-through at 11am PT Wednesday March 24.

 

VIP Preview: March 24, 6am PT

Public days: March 25 – 27, through 4pm PT

  • Online Viewing room
Works
  • Small red cylinder with three red wires and three round monitors displaying blinking eyes in different colors.
    Alan Rath
    Eyeris IX, 2017
    AR.SJICA.CAT#505
    birch plywood, acrylic, polyethylene, aluminum, custom electronics, LCDs
    87 x 60 x 10 in
    221 x 152.4 x 25.4 cm
  • Alan Rath Creature II, 2012 AR.SJICA.CAT#472 aluminum, FR-4, Delrin, custom electronics, motor, feather, LCD 25 x 13 x 44 in 63.5 x 33 x 111.8 cm edition 3 of 3
    Alan Rath
    Creature II, 2012
    AR.SJICA.CAT#472
    aluminum, FR-4, Delrin, custom electronics, motor, feather, LCD
    25 x 13 x 44 in
    63.5 x 33 x 111.8 cm
    edition 3 of 3
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ECreature%20II%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2012%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23472%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EFR-4%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EDelrin%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Emotor%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Efeather%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3ELCD%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E25%20x%2013%20x%2044%20in%3Cbr%3E63.5%20x%2033%20x%20111.8%20cm%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22edition_details%22%3Eedition%203%20of%203%3C/div%3E
  • Metal bracket mounted to wall with carabiner clip holding monitor displaying moving mouth that hangs connected to two silver boxes and one black one. They're all connected by black and grey cords and carabiners.
    Alan Rath
    Tongue-Tied, 1992
    AR.SJICA.CAT#144
    aluminum, steel, electronics, CRT
    64 x 17 x 17 in
    162.6 x 43.2 x 43.2 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ETongue-Tied%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E1992%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23144%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Esteel%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eelectronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3ECRT%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E64%20x%2017%20x%2017%20in%3Cbr%3E162.6%20x%2043.2%20x%2043.2%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Two small subwoofers connected to yellow wires and metal box.
    Alan Rath
    Bug-Eyed Breather, 1991
    AR.SJICA.CAT#110
    aluminum, custom electronics, speakers
    9 x 10 x 12 in
    22.9 x 25.4 x 30.5 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EBug-Eyed%20Breather%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E1991%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23110%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Espeakers%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E9%20x%2010%20x%2012%20in%3Cbr%3E22.9%20x%2025.4%20x%2030.5%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Oval shape lined with large pheasant feathers that wiggle from center.
    Alan Rath
    Forever, 2012
    AR.SJICA.CAT#473
    fiberglass, PVC, Delrin, aluminum, motors, custom electronics, pheasant feathers
    84 x 108 x 48 in
    213.4 x 274.3 x 121.9 cm
  • Tall silver pole with five large neon pink feathers on either side that move in all sorts of patterns. There are red and black cords wrapped around pole leading to two black poles at the base spread out for support.
    Alan Rath
    Positively, 2012
    AR.SJICA.CAT#476
    aluminum, fiberglass, custom electronics, motors, ostrich feathers
    84 x 72 x 60 in
    213.4 x 182.9 x 152.4 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EPositively%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2012%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23476%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Efiberglass%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Emotors%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eostrich%20feathers%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E84%20x%2072%20x%2060%20in%3Cbr%3E213.4%20x%20182.9%20x%20152.4%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Clear cylinder with rectangular monitor displaying skeleton walking towards viewer. The cylinder sits on antique wooden carved base.
    Alan Rath
    Running Man On Chinese Stand II, 2015
    AR.SJICA.CAT#499
    wood, acrylic, Delrin, Garolite, aluminum, polypropylene, custom electronics, LCD
    23 x 15 x 15 in
    58.4 x 38.1 x 38.1 cm
    unique
  • Small pink stand with square monitor depicting magenta eye under glass cloche.
    Alan Rath
    Looking Glass II, 2007
    AR.SJICA.CAT#426
    nylon, polypropylene, glass, aluminum, G10, custom electronics, LCD
    19 x 11 x 11 in
    48.3 x 27.9 x 27.9 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3ELooking%20Glass%20II%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2007%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23426%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Enylon%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Epolypropylene%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eglass%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EG10%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3ELCD%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E19%20x%2011%20x%2011%20in%3Cbr%3E48.3%20x%2027.9%20x%2027.9%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Nine grey and black speakers connected by large black coiled wires mounted on wall in spread out pattern. All cords lead back to silver rectangular box also mounted to wall with single black cable to power source.
    Alan Rath
    Wallflower II, 1990
    AR.SJICA.CAT#100
    aluminum, custom electronics, speakers
    60 x 86 x 12 in
    152.4 x 218.4 x 30.5 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EWallflower%20II%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E1990%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22signed_and_dated%22%3EAR.SJICA.CAT%23100%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ealuminum%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Espeakers%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E60%20x%2086%20x%2012%20in%3Cbr%3E152.4%20x%20218.4%20x%2030.5%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Alan Rath, Evermore, 2013
    Alan Rath, Evermore, 2013
    Inquire
    %3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EAlan%20Rath%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cem%3EEvermore%3C/em%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E2013%3C/span%3E
  • Two white circular bases against the wall with pheasant feathers that rotate in circular patterns parallel to the wall. The two circles are connected by a white coiled wire.
    Alan Rath
    Roto II, 2013
    AR.SJICA.CAT#489
    aluminum, fiberglass, custom electronics, motors, pheasant feathers
    56 x 104 x 6 in
    142.2 x 264.2 x 15.2 cm
    edition 4 of 5

Related artist

  • The image displays a contemporary artwork featuring three circular elements mounted on the wall, each containing a large, realistic eye with different colored irises—one green, one yellow, and one purple. The eyes are connected by red wires that originate

    Alan Rath

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