October 2007, Philadelphia, PA – Locks Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of video work by artist Peter Campus. the earth is nowhere, will be on view November 2nd through 30th, 2007. Six works on view will be shown for the first time in this exhibition. There will be a reception for the artist on Friday, November 2nd, from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
Video artist Peter Campus will exhibit a new body of work at Locks Gallery that focuses exclusively on the outdoors. His keen observations of curiously rhythmic occurrences along the coast of eastern Long Island appear as synchronized narratives, in multiple pieces. The exhibit's title, taken from a line in a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (the earth is nowhere so real a presence as mid thy branches), speaks to Campus' concerns regarding the deteriorating environment and the constant interference of humanity on the landscape.
In order to capture the perfect moment to film these pieces, Campus visited a single, fixed spot repeatedly, carefully monitoring activity and light quality. Campus then focused on his subject (buoys, fishing nets, concrete pillars in water) and captured subtle movement in expansive vistas. As with past pieces, Campus made time a defining parameter for the work. In effect, nature itself is allowed to compose and define the length and arc of each piece, undermining human touch.
In addition to the six new works, Locks Gallery will screen two of Campus’ seminal works, Head of a Misanthropic Man, 1978 and Death Threat, 2000. Campus, a pioneer of video art, has been a central figure during the evolution of the medium, both formally and conceptually. His work has become known for investigating the “self” through the parameters of closed circuit video and projections.
Campus has had over 40 solo exhibits since 1972 and been the subject of exhibits organized by The Whitney Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, Kunsthalle Bremen, the Neue Berliner Kunstverein and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia. His work has been included in the Whitney Biennial, the Venice Biennial, Documenta, and Projected Images (Walker Art Center, 1974). This is the artist's second solo exhibition at Locks Gallery.
