CHICAGO, IL – August 28, 2019 – The Peninsula Chicago, in partnership with Kasmin, is pleased to present REVERB, an exhibition of contemporary art showcasing works by three artists whose practices explore movement, sound, and electricity, engaging with the rhythm and structure of the urban environment. This is the fifth consecutive year that The Peninsula Chicago has hosted a contemporary art exhibit at the hotel, in conjunction with EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, the eighth edition of which will take place at Navy Pier, September 20 to 22, 2019. On view and open to the public throughout the hotel’s public space from September 20 through October 22, 2019, the presentation additionally coincides with the Chicago Architecture Biennial —another of the city’s most celebrated creative expositions.
Featured artists and exhibit artworks:
James Nares’ (b. 1952, England) multi-media practice encompasses film, music, painting, photography and performance, investigating physicality and the unfolding of time. Nares’ Delta, from his Road Paintings series, continues the artist’s ongoing kinetic investigations—exploring the form, direction and repetition of objects in motion by mark-marking using a mechanical road striper. Driggs II, a gilded pavement-stone rubbing of a New York City street, registers the topography of the city which has acted as protagonist and collaborator throughout Nares’ work. Three of the artist’s films—Drip (2007), Drop (2007,) and Paper Factory (2007)—will also be exhibited. A retrospective of the artist’s work, NARES: MOVES, is on view at Milwaukee Art Museum now through October 6, 2019.
Iván Navarro’s (b. 1972, Chile) socio-politically charged sculptures of neon, fluorescent and incandescent light activate both the sensorial and psychological experience in his viewer. Back To Square One (2017) emerges from a series incorporating text that poetically alludes to the geometric form of each work. Also included in the exhibition are two iterations of Navarro’s iconic Impenetrable Room (2012-2016) and, elsewhere, Impenetrable (Mouth) (2012)—a work that sits directly on the floor, enticing viewers to look down and into the body of the sculpture. Exploring a fourth dimension that can be seen as either reflection or fiction, the works are made up of containers lined with undulating neon that ripples into infinity against a mirrored backdrop.
Naama Tsabar’s (b. 1982, Israel) Transition canvases repurpose the internal and external components of the amplifier—wires, speaker, circuit board—to create a new formal visual experience whilst retaining the object’s ability to broadcast sound. Tsabar’s sculptural works and sonic installations weave together iconic actions and objects from rock music (the guitar, the amplifier, the microphone). The motifs of femininity, gender, disruption, destruction, and reconstruction recur throughout her work and performances.
Commitment to Contemporary Arts
Maria Razumich-Zec, Regional Vice President and General Manager of The Peninsula Chicago remarks, “Every fall for the past five years we have partnered with extraordinary artists, collectors and galleries to showcase exceptional artists’ work, all with an effort to shine a light on emerging talent, and transform our lobby to encourage guests to pause, take notice and appreciate the art.
The Peninsula Hotels Supports Public Art Initiatives
The Peninsula Chicago’s desire to provide guests with memorable art experiences aligns with The Peninsula Hotels’ global commitment to promoting the rich and vibrant cultural aspects of the destination cities in which it resides. In a continuation of the group’s ethos of innovation, The Peninsula Hotels has worked alongside curators Bettina Prentice and Isolde Brielmaier to present ‘Art in Resonance’ a new, multi-year global contemporary art program – that commissions work from artists who are poetically pushing the boundaries of their mediums. The program reflects a deeper commitment to engage with the artistic sphere, not only as a venue but as an originator and innovator of culture.
# # #
About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of tourism and leisure, club management and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Bangkok, and The Peninsula Manila. Projects under development include The Peninsula London, The Peninsula Yangon and The Peninsula Istanbul. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and St. John’s Building in Hong Kong; The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and 21 avenue Kléber in Paris, France. The clubs and services portfolio of the Group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong; Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand; Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong.
About EXPO CHICAGO
EXPO CHICAGO 2019, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, is presented by Art Expositions, LLC at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, hosting more than 135 leading International exhibitors presented alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture. Entering its eighth year as a leading international art fair, EXPO CHICAGO offers diverse programming including /Dialogues, IN/SITU, IN/SITU Outside, the Curatorial Forum, the Art Critics Forum, and OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project. In addition, EXPO CHICAGO continues to publish THE SEEN, Chicago's International Journal of Contemporary & Modern Art. Under the leadership of President and Director Tony Karman, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community and inspiring its collector base.
About KASMIN
Founded by Paul Kasmin in SoHo in 1989, Kasmin cultivates a rigorous exhibition program that places historic figures of Post-War art in dialogue with the evolving practice of established and emerging artists working today. Kasmin was among the first galleries to move to Chelsea in 2000 and continues to expand its program to include more artists and estates, now encompassing three gallery spaces anchored in the heart of the Chelsea Arts District at 10th Avenue and 27th Street.
# # #