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Liliana Porter
The Riddle / Charada, 13 March - 24 April 2021
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Liliana Porter: The Riddle / Charada

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Overview
Ceramic bride figurine with foil wrapped chocolate bunny on gray backdrop.

Hosfelt Gallery is pleased to present the world premiere of the most recent video by Liliana Porter, The Riddle/Charada, featuring an idiosyncratic cast of characters culled from her ever-evolving collection of toys and figurines that she finds in flea markets, antique stores, and souvenir shops. The narrative is constructed from a sequence of vignettes wherein these characters interact in unexpected and darkly humorous ways, accompanied by an evocative soundtrack.

 

Porter’s quirky objects have a double existence. On the one hand they appear as banal or kitschy curios; at the same time, they possess a gaze that evokes a certain pathos, provoking the viewer to endow them with an interiority and identity. Each theatrical vignette in the video presents a pointed visual commentary that speaks to the human condition. Leaving the narrative intentionally ambiguous and open to a variety of interpretations, Porter entices the viewer to unravel the riddle.

 

The film was conceived by Liliana Porter and directed by Liliana Porter and Ana Tiscornia. Music composed and performed by Sylvia Meyer. Videography by Federico Lo Bianco. Edited by Liliana Porter, Ana Tiscornia, Federico Lo Bianco and Sylvia Meyer. 

 

Early Conceptual Prints

 

To elucidate the conceptual and philosophical foundations of Porter’s work, accompanying the film are a group of seminal prints made in the 1960s and ‘70s. At the age of 22, Liliana moved from Argentina to New York, where she co-founded the New York Graphic Workshop with Luis Camnitzer and José Guillermo Castillo in 1965. Together they radically re-defined the meaning and purpose of printmaking by putting technique at the service of ideas.

 

While absorbing the movements that permeated New York in the mid 1960s—Minimalism, Pop, and Conceptual Art—Porter ultimately concluded that the complexity of the traditional printmaking process produced merely excellent technicians rather than brilliant artists. Her realization of “the trap of technique” led to a drastic shift in Porter’s practice. She began situating simple objects (a nail, hook, or thread) in an empty white space, and combining them with representations of those objects. This groundbreaking conceptual approach to printmaking became the genesis of philosophical explorations into notions of time and reality—themes that would continue to occupy her throughout her career.

 

Liliana Porter was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1941. Porter has shown extensively internationally, including most recently solo museum exhibitions at the Frist Art Museum, Nashville (on view through May 2, 2021); Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw; El Museo del Barrio, New York; Pérez Art Museum, Miami; Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, Montevideo, Uruguay; MALBA, Buenos Aires; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Museo Rayo, Roldanillo, Colombia; Centro Cultura de España, Santiago, Chile; and Museo Tamayo, Mexico City, as well as a two-person exhibition with Marcel Broodthaers at The New Museum, New York. Her work is in numerous public and private collections in Latin America, Europe and the United States, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain; Museo de Arte Moderno, Buenos Aires; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Smithsonian Museum of American Art; Daros-Latinoamerica Collection, Zurich; and Tate Modern, London.

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Works
  • Still image of a video. In the still two tall figurines are placed in the center. The figurine of the left is a porcelain white bride while the figurine to the right is of a shiny metallic silver rabbit with blue jeans. A light out of shot shines down on the figurines and causes the objects to cast a dramatic shadow on the white background beneath them
    Liliana Porter
    The Riddle / La Charada, 2019
    digital video with sound
    duration: 8:40 minutes
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EThe%20Riddle%20/%20La%20Charada%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2019%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Edigital%20video%20with%20sound%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%208%3A40%20minutes%3C/div%3E
  • White paper with black print of metal screw with eyelet with string coming through eye and around and through page.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (hook and string), 1973
    silkscreen and string on paper, unique
    20 3/4 x 25 1/2 inches
    52.7 x 64.8 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUntitled%20%28hook%20and%20string%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1973%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esilkscreen%20and%20string%20on%20paper%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eunique%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E20%203/4%20x%2025%201/2%20inches%3Cbr/%3E%0A52.7%20x%2064.8%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Print of black square with black string that went through press but has been moved, showing white outline of string.
    Liliana Porter
    Black (string with knot), 1971
    aquatint and string on paper, unique
    plate 17 3/4 x 13 inches/45.1 x 33 cm
    sheet 29 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches/74.3 x 57.1 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EBlack%20%28string%20with%20knot%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1971%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Eaquatint%20and%20string%20on%20paper%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eunique%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eplate%2017%203/4%20x%2013%20inches/45.1%20x%2033%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0Asheet%2029%201/4%20x%2022%201/2%20inches/74.3%20x%2057.1%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Print of black rectangle on top of off set rectangle of tissue paper.
    Liliana Porter
    Black VIII (wrinkle), 1971
    aquatint, collage and string on paper, unique
    plate 17 3/4 x 13 inches/45.1 x 33 cm
    sheet 26 1/4 x 20 1/4 inches/66.7 x 51.4 cm
  • Black rectangle with crinkled black tissue paper.
    Liliana Porter
    Black I (wrinkle), 1972
    aquatint and collage on paper, unique
    plate 17 3/4 x 13 inches/45.1 x 33 cm
    sheet 26 1/4 x 20 inches/66.7 x 50.8 cm
  • Print with white border of sand with pyramid, triangle cut into sand, and cut triangle matching print.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (with triangle), 1975
    photo etching and collage on paper
    plate 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches/22.2 x 29.8 cm
    sheet 26 x 23 3/8 inches/66 x 59.4 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUntitled%20%28with%20triangle%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1975%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ephoto%20etching%20and%20collage%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eplate%208%203/4%20x%2011%203/4%20inches/22.2%20x%2029.8%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0Asheet%2026%20x%2023%203/8%20inches/66%20x%2059.4%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Print with white border of sand with cube, sphere, and pyramid. There is cut out of triangle, square, and circle matching print on top.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (with geometric shapes), 1975
    photo etching and collage on paper
    plate 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches/22.2 x 29.8 cm
    sheet 26 x 23 inches/66 x 58.4 cm
  • Print with white border of sand with sphere, circle cut into sand, and cut circle matching print.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (with circle), 1975
    photo etching and collage on paper
    plate 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches/22.2 x 29.8 cm
    sheet 26 x 23 1/2 inches/66 x 59.7 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUntitled%20%28with%20circle%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1975%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ephoto%20etching%20and%20collage%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eplate%208%203/4%20x%2011%203/4%20inches/22.2%20x%2029.8%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0Asheet%2026%20x%2023%201/2%20inches/66%20x%2059.7%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Print of hand holding folded piece of paper with same piece of paper.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (hand with paper), 1973
    photo etching and collage on paper
    plate 11 3/4 x 12 inches/29.8 x 30.5 cm
    sheet 26 x 24 inches/66 x 61 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUntitled%20%28hand%20with%20paper%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1973%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ephoto%20etching%20and%20collage%20on%20paper%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eplate%2011%203/4%20x%2012%20inches/29.8%20x%2030.5%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0Asheet%2026%20x%2024%20inches/66%20x%2061%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Print with three black lines creating depth with crinkled black and white paper.
    Liliana Porter
    Untitled (corner), 1967
    etching on paper, wrinkled paper, unique
    plate 35 x 17 3/4 inches/88.9 x 45.1 cm
    sheet 39 x 22 1/2 inches/99.1 x 57.1 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3ELiliana%20Porter%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUntitled%20%28corner%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1967%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Eetching%20on%20paper%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ewrinkled%20paper%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Eunique%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eplate%2035%20x%2017%203/4%20inches/88.9%20x%2045.1%20cm%20%3Cbr/%3E%0Asheet%2039%20x%2022%201/2%20inches/99.1%20x%2057.1%20cm%3C/div%3E
Installation Views
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Six black and white prints hung in horizontal line on white wall.
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Five black and white prints hung in horizontal line on walls that converge. Two on wall and three on the...
Press
  • Liliana Porter, “The Riddle / Charada”, 2019, still from digital video, duration:8:40 minutes

    ARTFORUM: Liliana Porter's The Riddle / Charada features on "Must-See" Show List

    ARTFORUM, March 31, 2021
Events
  • Humberto Moro on the left clad in all black with a stern expression. On the right, Liliana porter sits smiling in a white sweater and yellow framed glasses with short white hair.

    In Conversation: Liliana Porter & Humberto Moro

    20 Apr 2021
    A virtual tour of The Riddle / Charada and conversation between Liliana Porter and Humberto Moro, Deputy Director and Senior Curator at Museo Tamayo Arte, Mexico City.
    Read more
News
  • HG Magazine Issue no. 28

    HG Magazine Issue no. 28

    Studio Visit with Birgit Jensen; plus Liliana Porter, Ben McLaughlin, Isabella Kirkland, Patricia Piccinini, Cornelius Völker April 16, 2021
    Closing soon - Liliana Porter: The Riddle / Charada & Ben McLaughlin: Ex Libris Upcoming at the Gallery - Isabella Kirkland: THE SMALL MATTER &...
    Read more
  • HG Magazine Issue no. 27

    HG Magazine Issue no. 27

    Liliana Porter in the press & virtual event; plus Ben McLaughlin, Rina Banerjee, Isabella Kirkland, Patricia Piccinini, Max Gimblett, Lordy Rodriguez, Bruce & Jean Conner April 3, 2021
    Liliana Porter in Artforum and Artsy In Conversation: Liliana Porter & curator Humberto Moro Ben McLaughlin: Artwork Explained Art @ Home New to Inventory: Rina...
    Read more
  • HG Magazine Issue no. 26

    HG Magazine Issue no. 26

    Liliana Porter: The Riddle / Charada & Ben McLaughlin: Ex Libris open; plus Todd's 50 favorite novels, Alan Rath @ Art Basel OVR March 9, 2021
    Liliana Porter's The Riddle / Charada and Ben McLaughlin's Ex Libris open March 13, 2021 Todd Revisits His Favorite 50 Novels From the Last 50...
    Read more

Related artist

  • A smashed metal alarm clock with a small figurine of a janitor sweeping at the bottom.

    Liliana Porter

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