Super Dakota

Prelude

For a solo show in Paris at Galerie Pact, Ethan installed his work alongside a photo by Aaron Siskind. I thought this was a lovely touch. We spoke about it and decided we could take this a step further and curate a prelude for his exhibition on the lower level of the gallery. We invited five artists with whom Ethan shares a series of related connections: John Divola, Don Dudley, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Jan Groover and Peter Halley.

The most significant connection is an engagement with geometric form, both pictorial and architectural. In various ways, each of these artists pushes their vocabulary past expected boundaries, making space for instability and play within the concrete. Ethan gave it the title “No Transport”. I think it has something to do with Sylvia Plimack Mangold. She was supposed to be in the show, too.

We decided to let the viewer connect the dots between the pieces in “No Transport” and Ethan’s own work. There are many links—shifts of light and time, scaleless interiors, the contagion of meaning, or architecture as a camera framing the world outside—I am sure you’ll see it too.

Some exhibitions happen in a second. Some, like this one, took a little while to see the light. As a French person, I am told good things take time. A few months ago in New York, I went back to the burger joint with Masha, with fond memories; but the place has become more of a fast food scene than a local hang out. I was left with a mirage of my first encounter with Ethan.

– Damîen Bertelle-Rogier