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Jim Campbell
Wandering, 7 May - 11 June 2022
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Jim Campbell: Wandering

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Overview
Blurry black and white image of a person in a rowboat on a lake
Jim Campbell, "Drift," 2022, 1728 LEDs, plexiglas, paper, custom electronics, 44 x 33 x 2 inches

For nearly three decades, Jim Campbell has designed and built custom electronics, hijacking tech developed for information transfer and storage and repurposing it to make artworks that explore the limits of human perception.

 

The pieces in this show of new work should, in theory, defy comprehension. They are either so low resolution (too little information) or so high resolution (too much information) that the viewer should be completely confounded.  But Campbell plumbs our primal ability to subconsciously interpret sensory data, either "filling in the gaps" or sorting through extraneous noise in order to identify objects and formulate a coherent concept.  His exploration of the distinction between the analogue world and its digital representation is a metaphor for the difference between poetic understanding or "knowledge" versus the mathematics of "data." 

 

In a mesmerizing new series he calls Moving Average, Campbell explores these ideas in works that are essentially the opposite of his LED pieces.  Using video and movie footage, he constructs between 5 and 18 layers of moving imagery which are overlaid and played simultaneously.  If his low-resolution LED works are about the minimum threshold of information necessary to create meaning, his Moving Average works are about the maximum - how much he can pile on before we're unable to make sense of anything at all.

 

Through constantly-evolving experimentation, Campbell parses one of the most fundamental questions about the human mind: what enables us to interpret and understand the world around us?

 

Jim Campbell's work has been exhibited worldwide at institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; The International Center for Photography, New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Chronus Art Center, Shanghai; Vancouver Art Gallery, British Columbia; Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia.  His work is in numerous museum collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC; Whitney Museum of American Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; de Young Museum, San Francisco; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Berkeley Art Museum. Honors include a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship Award in Multimedia, three Langlois Foundation Grants and a Guggenheim Fellowship Award. He has two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Mathematics and Engineering from MIT and as an engineer holds nearly twenty patents in the field of video image processing. His 2018 piece, Day for Night, is a permanent LED installation that comprises the top nine floors of the 61-story Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.

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Works
  • An image of blurry waves.
    Jim Campbell
    Transition, 2022
    custom electronics, 768 LEDs, treated plexiglass
    23 x 30 x 2 3/4 in
    58.4 x 76.2 x 7 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ETransition%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E768%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Etreated%20plexiglass%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E23%20x%2030%20x%202%203/4%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A58.4%20x%2076.2%20x%207%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • An image of little square pegs in a panel of exploded random colors
    Jim Campbell
    Exploded Flat Grid, 2022
    custom electronics, 54 LEDs, aluminum
    26 3/4 x 30 1/4 x 4 1/2 in
    67.9 x 76.8 x 11.4 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EExploded%20Flat%20Grid%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E54%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ealuminum%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E26%203/4%20x%2030%201/4%20x%204%201/2%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A67.9%20x%2076.8%20x%2011.4%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • An image of little square pegs in a black panel of exploded random colors
    Jim Campbell
    Repixelated Grid, 2022
    custom electronics, 54 LEDs, frosted acrylic, aluminum
    26 3/4 x 30 1/4 x 5 1/2 in
    67.9 x 76.8 x 14 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ERepixelated%20Grid%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E54%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Efrosted%20acrylic%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ealuminum%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E26%203/4%20x%2030%201/4%20x%205%201/2%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A67.9%20x%2076.8%20x%2014%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • An image of little square pegs in a panel of exploded random colors
    Jim Campbell
    Exploded Flat Random, 2022
    custom electronics, 54 LEDs, aluminum
    26 3/4 x 30 1/4 x 4 1/2 in
    67.9 x 76.8 x 11.4 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EExploded%20Flat%20Random%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E54%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ealuminum%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E26%203/4%20x%2030%201/4%20x%204%201/2%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A67.9%20x%2076.8%20x%2011.4%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • An image of little random square pegs in a black panel of exploded random colors
    Jim Campbell
    Repixelated Random, 2022
    custom electronics, 54 LEDs, frosted acrylic, aluminum
    26 3/4 x 30 1/4 x 5 1/2 in
    67.9 x 76.8 x 14 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ERepixelated%20Random%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E54%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Efrosted%20acrylic%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Ealuminum%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E26%203/4%20x%2030%201/4%20x%205%201/2%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A67.9%20x%2076.8%20x%2014%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • A gif of a man rowing a boat in a lake.
    Jim Campbell
    Drift, 2022
    custom electronics, 1,728 LEDs, treated plexiglas, Kozo MM-2
    33 x 44 x 2 in
    83.8 x 111.8 x 5.1 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EDrift%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E1%2C728%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Etreated%20plexiglas%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EKozo%20MM-2%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E33%20x%2044%20x%202%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A83.8%20x%20111.8%20x%205.1%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • A still of movie within multiple layers projected on to a large wall.
    Jim Campbell
    Moving Average #1 (Hitchcock's Psycho), 2022
    single channel video
    duration: 1:46:00
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EMoving%20Average%20%231%20%28Hitchcock%27s%20Psycho%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esingle%20channel%20video%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%201%3A46%3A00%3C/div%3E
  • A still of movie within multiple layers.
    Jim Campbell
    Moving Average #3 (Hitchcock's North by Northwest), 2022
    single channel video
    duration: 2:12:26
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EMoving%20Average%20%233%20%28Hitchcock%27s%20North%20by%20Northwest%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esingle%20channel%20video%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%202%3A12%3A26%3C/div%3E
  • A still of movie within multiple layers.
    Jim Campbell
    Moving Average #2 (Fellini's 8 1/2), 2022
    single channel video
    duration: 2:15:40
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EMoving%20Average%20%232%20%28Fellini%27s%208%201/2%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esingle%20channel%20video%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%202%3A15%3A40%3C/div%3E
  • A still of Ocean Layers
    Jim Campbell
    Moving Average (Ocean Layers), 2022
    single channel video
    duration: 15:00
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EMoving%20Average%20%28Ocean%20Layers%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esingle%20channel%20video%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%2015%3A00%3C/div%3E
  • An image of the piece with a small burst of light showing sea shells.
    Jim Campbell
    Buried Thought #2, 2022
    custom electronics, 600 LEDs, mounted Duratrans and Kozo MM-2 diffusion screen
    22 5/8 x 33 1/8 x 2 1/4 in
    57.5 x 84.1 x 5.7 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EBuried%20Thought%20%232%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E600%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Emounted%20Duratrans%20and%20Kozo%20MM-2%20diffusion%20screen%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E22%205/8%20x%2033%201/8%20x%202%201/4%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A57.5%20x%2084.1%20x%205.7%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Moving image of a wave.
    Jim Campbell
    Edition 28 (Surf), 2021
    custom electronics, 384 LEDs, treated plexiglass
    15 1/2 x 22 3/4 x 2 7/8 in
    39.4 x 57.8 x 7.3 cm
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EEdition%2028%20%28Surf%29%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2021%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ecustom%20electronics%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E384%20LEDs%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3Etreated%20plexiglass%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E15%201/2%20x%2022%203/4%20x%202%207/8%20in%3Cbr/%3E%0A39.4%20x%2057.8%20x%207.3%20cm%3C/div%3E
  • Still image of an average of Hitchcock’s movie Psycho
    Jim Campbell
    Accumulated Psycho, 2004
    single channel video
    duration: 1:46:00
    Inquire
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJim%20Campbell%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EAccumulated%20Psycho%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2004%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Esingle%20channel%20video%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eduration%3A%201%3A46%3A00%3C/div%3E
  • An image of piece with scattered string lights showing people walking.
    Jim Campbell
    Scattered Light Prototype, 2009
    custom electronics, LEDs, wire, steel
    41 x 54 x 21 3/4 in
    104.1 x 137.2 x 55.2 cm
Installation Views
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Press
  • A still of North by Northwest in multiple layers.

    Jim Campbell is pushing the perception frontiers of video art

    Max Blue, SF Examiner, May 24, 2022
Events
  • A headshot of Assistant Curator of Media Arts at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Andrea Nitsche-Krupp.

    Exhibition Tour with SFMOMA Curator Andrea Nitsche-Krupp

    21 May 2022
  • A headshot of Assistant Curator of Photography and New Media, Maggie Dethloff.

    Exhibition Tour with Cantor Center for Visual Arts Curator Maggie Dethloff

    26 May 2022
News
  • HG Magazine Issue no. 39

    HG Magazine Issue no. 39

    Jim Campbell June 1, 2022
    Jim Campbell: Wandering
    Read more

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    Jim Campbell

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