Lehmann Maupin

Artist:  Jennifer Steinkamp
Title: Rapunzel
Date:  2005
Dimensions:  variable, approx. 10 feet high.
Equipment:  Mitsubishi XL5950U  4700 lumen projectors, Dell OptiPlex SX280 computers.
Photo Credit: Robert Wedemeyer, courtesy ACME., Los Angeles, and Lehmann Maupin, NY
Exhibition History:

1. Lehmann Maupin, New York, May 20-June 25, 2005, exhibited 3, 9, 10, 12.
2. ACME., Los Angeles, California, June 3 - July 2, 2005, exhibited 1, 5, 6, 11, 12.
3. Galeria Soledad Lorenzo, Madrid Spain, March 23 - May 4, 2006, exhibited 6, 9.
4. Jennifer Steinkamp, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA, curated by JoAnne Northrup, July 1 - October 1, 2006, exhibited 3.
5. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, March 2 - April 14, 2007. exhibited 10.
6. Existencies, MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Castilla y Leon, Spain, September 21, 2007- January 6 2008, exhibited 9.
7. Towada Art Center, Towada, Japan, April, 2008. exhibited 1.

Quicktime Movie Installation Documentation

Lehmann Maupin

Description: Rapunzel associates addiction, beauty, hair and flowers. It's based on the Grimm brothers retelling of the fairytale. In short, Rapunzel whose mother while pregnant had cravings for rampion flowers. Rapunzel's mother longed for the beautiful, edible flower that grew in the garden of a neighboring witch. She sent her husband to steal the flower, after being caught trying to steal the flower, they were forced to exchange their newborn daughter for a supply of flowers. The witch placed Rapunzel high out of reach in a tower, Rapunzel grew her hair over 50 feet for witch access, prince rescues her, etc. This is a story of a child who was given up for an addiction, a common occurrence in contemporary life. The installation consists of gently swaying vines projected onto the walls of the gallery; creating an enchanted garden within the gallery that evokes the witch's garden. The computer-generated vines were created with an algorithm that simulated hair. I attached flowers to the long hair/vines, as the hair moved the flowers held on.

The installation consists of gently swaying vines projected filling a wall.  The playful movement of the vines is seemingly natural, yet tension is created between the physical space of the gallery and the invented landscape.

Part of the collection:
MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Castilla y Leon, Spain, 9.
Towada Art Center, Towada, Japan