SoiL Thornton at Kunstverein Bielefeld

Decomposition Evaluation

SoiL Thornton

Kunstverein Bielefeld

August 20 – October 30, 2022

The Kunstverein Bielefeld is delighted to present Decomposition Evaluation, the first institutional solo exhibition of the work of SoiL Thornton to be held in Europe. Thornton’s practice engages with the underlying conditions for the exhibition, presentation and representation of artistic production. Who represents what? Which roles are assigned to any particular artist? What are the underlying processes of economic exploitation? How are identity, individuality, and biography used to shape artists into brands? And what is it that constitutes value?

SoiL Thornton’s artistic work questions precisely these processes, the ways by which a society constitutes agreed norms and sets up established power relations. Their approach is often about measuring the tension between an idea and its material implementation. Thornton has developed this exhibition specifically for the Kunstverein Bielefeld, including new installative works. One concept moving through the exhibition is based on an investigation of the visual effects of chroma keying, examples of which can be seen both in the invitation card and in the site-specific wall work Beginnings of dematerialized space / containment through exercising imagination then exercising active practice? (ready to go) (2022) shown at the Kunstverein Bielefeld. In film production, key colors like chroma green are used to create backgrounds on which to overlay digital content. Thornton’s work has an abiding interest in questions of how things appear and how meaning comes to be. Their works are an appeal to fiction and its inherent possibilities for self-transcendence.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication, supported by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation as part of their Catalogues for Young Artists award.

SoiL Thornton was born 1990 and lives and works in New York. They have recently had solo exhibitions at Galerie Neu, Berlin (2022), Essex Street, New York, and Morán Morán, Los Angeles (both 2021). Their work has been included in group exhibitions at Fri-Art, Kunsthalle Friborg, Switzerland (2022), and the SculpturCenter, New York (2021). In 2017, their work was featured at the Whitney Biennial in New York.

Curated by Nadine Droste

SoiL Thornton, Labor Cont(r)act (Kunstverein Bielefeld assisted), 2022 Spray paint on wall Dimensions variable Waisted Breathe, 2022 Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags, 18 parts Dimensions variable Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Labor Cont(r)act (Kunstverein Bielefeld assisted), 2022 Spray paint on wall Dimensions variable Waisted Breathe, 2022 Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags, 18 parts Dimensions variable Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Voucher for my purchase of Loop mycelium coffin for self, mycelium material sample choices to be used for coffin, letter from the owner of Loop, mat and wood frame 56 x 39 cm. Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Voucher for my purchase of Loop mycelium coffin for self, mycelium material sample choices to be used for coffin, letter from the owner of Loop, mat and wood frame 56 x 39 cm. Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Assisted Cleansing/tactile gap glue (372 of 1,000,000), 2020 – ongoing. Vehicularly flattened aluminum cans inside storage vessels Dimensions variable. Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Assisted Cleansing/tactile gap glue (372 of 1,000,000), 2020 – ongoing. Vehicularly flattened aluminum cans inside storage vessels Dimensions variable. Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(Kunstverein Bielefeld), 2022 Spray paint and CNC routed MDF coated with FR polyuria, sanded, primed and sprayed white, ink 120 x 120 x 10cm Sculpture to always house another object or artwork on top of it in its presentation. Who makes who at home (TZK edition), 2021 TEXTE ZUR KUNST office key, steel reinforced J-B Weld epoxy, 10,2cm long steel wire key ring and removed galvinzed steel NYPD barrier support railing 80 x 10,2 x 2,5 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Dinner Plate as varying support for an artwork(s)(Kunstverein Bielefeld), 2022 Spray paint and CNC routed MDF coated with FR polyuria, sanded, primed and sprayed white, ink 120 x 120 x 10cm Sculpture to always house another object or artwork on top of it in its presentation. Who makes who at home (TZK edition), 2021 TEXTE ZUR KUNST office key, steel reinforced J-B Weld epoxy, 10,2cm long steel wire key ring and removed galvinzed steel NYPD barrier support railing 80 x 10,2 x 2,5 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Pay it Forward, 2022 Steel, chicken wire, adverts and compost Detail 300 x 150 x 100 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Pay it Forward, 2022 Steel, chicken wire, adverts and compost Detail 300 x 150 x 100 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Pay it Forward, 2022 Steel, chicken wire, adverts and compost Detail 300 x 150 x 100 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Pay it Forward, 2022 Steel, chicken wire, adverts and compost Detail 300 x 150 x 100 cm Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Waisted Breathe, 2022 Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags 18 parts Dimensions variable. Photo: Fred Dott
SoiL Thornton, Waisted Breathe, 2022 Some of my hopes and dreams whispered into Shopping Bag Waste Bins of stainless steel with brass finish, aggression release, in plastic vacuum sealed bags 18 parts Dimensions variable. Photo: Fred Dott