Haunch of Venison - part 1- The gallery + Patricia Piccinini

1. haunch/hônCH/Noun

   1. A buttock and thigh considered together, in a human or animal.

   2. The leg and loin of an animal as food.

I noticed Eve Sussman's "Rape of the Sabine Women" was playing at NYs Haunch of Venison. I had never gone to this gallery before nor heard of it. It was a beautiful space and not in the normal location of Chelsea. It was off Ave. of the Americas - right by Fox news and the Rockettes in a highrise with a concierge at the front desk. Their website states they are located in London, Berlin and Zurich as well. As i said before, beautiful space and nice layout of art pieces.

Their name is interesting - and although i've only seen Sussman's piece there along with Patricia Piccinini's sculptures - it seems as if their name is fitting to the art they show. They've reportedly also shown Michael Joo who I can see being there....

Their name bothers me though too - it seems like the collection of art is grouped in old style (or even contemporary) British fox hunting or it makes me think of - not the guys from my small texas town hunting deer in the wild but of wealthy, cigar smoking and overweight men in their suits sipping brandy next to the head of a rhino they caught on an expedition in Africa or something.

Its funny though that - a haunch of venison - would make me picture the wealthy and not the poorer hunters... maybe its me knowing its a gallery or maybe its the word Haunch. Yes, I doubt that my school mates in highschool would use the word haunch...

Back to the appropriate artists: i realize that they show others who wouldn't necessarily be placed into this little analyses of mine, i am looking and picking out those that fit - but i am attracted to those that do fit in the same way i'm attracted to the above definition of the word haunch.

Its this hunk of meat with a frilly name (frilly, now in america, anyway). Its specifically from the butt/loin area which seems to mean something... I'm not a huge meat eater - not a vegetarian but still not a daily eater of meat - and yet my mouth is watering right now.

And I think that that is what i'm attracted to. My mouth is watering not for food, specifically meat, but it is watering because something visceral is in the word haunch. Something visceral is also in Michael Joo's work...something visceral is in Piccinini's work. And the sexuality in Sussman's 'Rape of the Sabine Women' - the act of rape is visceral.

vis·cer·al

1.

of or pertaining to the viscera.

2.

affecting the viscera.

3.

of the nature of or resembling viscera.

4.

characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect: a visceral reaction.

5.

characterized by or dealing with coarse or base emotions; earthy; crude: a visceral literary style.

I had to look up visceral - just to make sure - and yes, it is accurate. Its funny that i would characterize the word 'haunch' as fancy and thefore not base - and say that it is visceral.
Anyway, I do believe that there is a visceral element in much of my work - I think - I am attracted to it anyway. In my tracking of other's work in order to place and develop my work - I will definitely keep an eye on Haunch of Venison's ny openings.

Patricia Piccinini:
I've seen her work before and been amazed and enthralled yet not impressed all at the same time. The craftsmenship is supurb, yes. The pieces are interesting, yes. But what is it that is missing for me? Her uber realistic alien/animal/human hybrids mixed with human sculptures are captivating - but there is something there that is too easy. There are places she's not going conceptually or emotionally or something... Is it too much of a trick for me? I think of Ron Mueck's work - it does only go so far for me for the same reason... I mean, I'm impressed and could never make a human form that realistic looking -- but after seeing one, you've seen them all. The trick is then visible - it becomes about hollywood magic where many of them have worked - instead of getting at being human in our world. Even when the subject matter is addressed, it isn't addressed thoroughly or seriously - only on the skimming the surface. I feel the same way about Piccinini's glossy painted 'automobile' sculptures. Technology, slickness - love it! But it isn't getting to anything.. it isn't touching a nerve. It is, on the other hand, where i would bring someone who doesn't care about art or like it in order to give them something they'd like..