THE EXTENSION 
NATE BOYCE, BJÖRN BRAUN, TALIA CHETRIT, ALEXANDRE DA CUNHA, BRIAN GRIFFITHS, ROBERT PRATT 
16 JANUARY - 20 FEBRUARY 2011

Vilma Gold is delighted to present The Extension: an exhibition of works selected by Alexandre da Cunha and Brian Griffiths, including new works by Nate Boyce, Björn Braun, Talia Chetrit, Alexandre da Cunha, Brian Griffiths and Robert Pratt. 

‘The Extension’ seeks to set up a conversation between sculptures, materials and the act of building; a modest conversation where form, surface, size, and weight are casually but precisely discussed, where process nearly becomes subject matter and sculptures almost begin to perform. 

The works in the exhibition show particular relationship to labour: of diverse physical actions, of time spent (long and short), of collaborative or individual endeavour. The organic and natural elegantly co-exist with the urban and architectural. Outside and inside (world and art, matter and space, - the edges all blurring), top and bottom, real and propositional become entangled digressions. Abstraction or the abstracted hang in the air mixed with utility, of industry and everyday experience. The Extension’ is a show that solidifies thought, creates movement via the inert and reflects the shifting absurd backdrop of our daily life. 

Alexandre da Cunha (b.1969, Rio de Janeiro) lives and works in London. He has had solo shows at: Camden Arts Centre, London (2008); Vilma Gold, London (2008); Galeria Luisa Strina, Sau Paulo (2008); and CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Franciso (2007). His selected group shows include: Museum Ritter, Germany (2010); Kurimanzutto, Mexico City (2010); 2nd San Juan Triennial, Puerto Rico (2009); Morsbroich Museum, Leverkusen (2009); Centro Cultural Banco de Brasil, Rio de Jeneiro (2008); Inhotim Centro de Arte Contemporanea, Brazil (2008); NAK, Aachen (2007); and CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco (2007). His work is currently included in ‘Making is Thinking’ at Witte de With, Rotterdam. 

Brian Griffiths (b.1968, Stratford-Upon-Avon) lives and works in London. He has had solo shows at: Vilma Gold, London (2008); A Foundation, Liverpool (2007); and Arnolfini, Bristol (2007). In 2010 his work was included in exhibitions at: Tate Britain, London; Hayward Gallery, London; Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham; Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow; and The  Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh. Further selected group shows include: CAPC Bordeaux (2009); and Fundament Foundation, Tilburg, The Netherlands (2008). In 2010 the artist was nominated for the Fourth Plinth Commission, Trafalgar Square, London. He will have a solo show at Grimm Gallery, Amsterdam in 2011. 

Nate Boyce (b.1982, Kansas) lives and works in San Francisco, California. He graduated from San Francisco Art Institute in 2006 and has exhibited at: Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA (2010); Jack Hanley Gallery, San Francisco, CA (2010); Anthology Film Archives, New York (2008); Deitch Projects, New York (2008); Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2008); Center for Contemporary Art, Glasgow (2007); CCA Wattis Institute, San Francisco, CA (2006); and San Jose Institute for Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA (2006). 

Björn Braun (b.1979, Berlin) lives and works in Karlsruhe. He studied under the artist Meuser at Staatlichen Akademie de Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe (2002 - 2008). He has had solo shows at Meyer Riegger, Karlsruhe (2010 and 2007) and Kunstverein Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany (2009) and he has participated in group shows at: LWL, Munster (2010); CAPC, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Bordeaux (2009); V8, Karlsruhe (2009 and 2008); and Kunstverein Heilbronn (2008). 

Talia Chetrit (b.1982, Washington DC) lives and works in New York. She completed her MFA at Rhode Island School of Design in 2008 and has had solo shows at IMO Projects, Copenhagen (2010) and Renwick Gallery, New York (2009). Selected group shows include: Sara Meltzer Gallery, New York; Galerie Lelong, New York; L.A Arthouse, Los Angeles; Stefania Bortolami at The Webster, Miami (all 2010); Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami (2009); Photographic Resource Center, Boston (2008); and Priska Juschka, New York (2008). In 2011 she will have her second solo show with Renwick Gallery, New York. 

Robert Pratt (b.1984, Camberley) lives and works in London. He studied at the Royal Academy (2006-2009). He has participated in: ‘Everyday Altered’, Gallery Primo Alonso, London (2009); ‘New Works’, FAFA Gallery, Helsinki; and ‘Who’s On Second’, Pumphouse Gallery, London (2007). He recently had a solo show at And / Or, London.