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Perhappiness

March 10, 2005- April 23, 2005

Rimma Gerlovina & Valeriy Gerlovin

Flomenhaft

547 W 27th St
The Flomenhaft Gallery is proud to present Russian born Rimma Gerlovina and Valeriy Gerlovin's exhibit, "PERHAPPINESS." Sophisticated and collaborative, theirs is an art form that makes a difference. In the mid 70s they were in the vanguard of Moscow's underground art. Viewers and artists gathered together in their apartment. The oppressive atmosphere in Russia prohibiting free expression fostered active theatrical participation among those in attendance. The Gerlovins came to the United States in 1980. Here they gradually made a transition from performance art to "still performances." In C prints, they synthesized all of their former forays into performance, poetry and sculpture. They view art as "an organic union of interrelated parts whose balance, as in any living organism, is important to maintain." Linguistics and numerological systems are the sources and substance of their spiritual pilgrimage. Rimma majored in philology (literature and linguistics). Valeriy's background included stage design. Their art is a culmination of all their pursuits. The Gerlovins have created a new order built on old wisdom viewed through the magnifying eye of the lens. Using the camera as their tool, mythology, mysticism and literary puns are played off against each other. Body and skin are the human parchments for their visual formulas. Rimma's long hair is a ubiquitous element in their compostions. In "The Pilgrim" it metamorphoses into a cloak; it covers her shoulders like a shroud in "Slow Heating." Most often, Rimma is the subject. Her ethereal beauty has been correctly compared to a Botticelli maiden. Since coming to America, they have had many solo exhibitions in museums including the Art Institute of Chicago. A retrospective of their photography was organized by The New Orleans Museum of Art and travelled to venues in fifteen cities. Their photographs have been featured in numerous publications, among them the New York Times magazine cover and the book,"Art on the Edge and Over." Their work is represented in many museum collections and has been sold in leading auction houses. Speaking of their "still performances," the artists say: "these images briefly sum up certain trends in our art that closely link to the whole sequence of life's PERHAPPENINGS. In pursuit of PERHAPPINESS in life, we tend to follow our feelings, not the instincts; to follow our mind, not the feelings; to follow our intuition, not the mind. Amid all kinds of wonders, it is a process of finding the articulation of the soul."

Books and DVDs related to artists in this show

Location map  Gallery Flomenhaft Address 547 W 27th St, #308 New York (Chelsea) NY, 10001 United States Phone 212-268-4952 Fax 212-268-4953 Hours Tue-Sat 10:30-5 Nearby: All 28 galleries at 547 W 27th St

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