Key takeaways
- Tauba Auerbach's art is heavily influenced by mathematics, physics, and various systems of logic, creating a distinctive visual language.
- Her diverse body of work spans multiple mediums, including paintings, sculptures, photography, artists' books, and musical performances.
- Auerbach's practice is characterized by a meticulous attention to detail and a fascination with the interplay between order and chaos.
- Her "Fold Paintings" and "Auerglass" experimental instrument demonstrate her ability to deconstruct and reassemble systems, blending art, mathematics, and technology.
- Auerbach's work challenges viewers to rethink their perceptions and engage with the complexities of the natural world.
Tauba Auerbach: exploring the boundaries of perception
Tauba Auerbach (b. 1981) is a New York-based visual artist whose work spans painting, artists' books, sculpture, weaving, and music. Deeply influenced by her studies in mathematics and physics, Auerbach explores structural systems and connections from microscopic to universal scales, blending conceptual art, abstraction, and graphic design to create a distinctive visual language.
Her art is rooted in a fascination with dimensionality and alternate perceptions of reality, challenging viewers to reconsider traditional boundaries between two- and three-dimensional spaces. Auerbach's "Fold Paintings" and "Weave Paintings" exemplify her technique of merging the flat with the dimensional, crafting a visual experience that sits at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Through diverse mediums and meticulous attention to detail, her work reveals a deep engagement with the balance between order and chaos, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary in ways that reshape our perception.
The Fold Paintings: reverse trompe l'oeils
Between 2009 and 2013, Tauba Auerbach developed the "Fold Paintings," a distinctive series where she folds a canvas, sprays paint along the creases, and then stretches it back out. This process results in captivating reverse Trompe l'Oeil pieces that make the flat surface appear as though it has depth, challenging the viewer’s perception of dimensionality.
Auerbach’s Fold Paintings blur the line between physical surface and visual illusion, creating an optical effect that elevates traditional painting by adding an illusory glow and shadowed depth. Her innovative technique combines the tangible with the imagined, pushing viewers to reconsider dimensions and how they are visually represented. These works, which debuted in 2009, earned Auerbach significant recognition, with inclusions in the 2010 Whitney Biennial and MoMA PS1's Greater New York exhibit, solidifying her as a leading figure in contemporary conceptual art.
The Weave Paintings: bridging dimensions
Tauba Auerbach’s "Weave Paintings" series presents an intriguing blend of two- and three-dimensional forms. Using monochromatic or bi-colored woven canvas strips arranged on a wooden frame, she builds a structured grid that she then distorts with patterns and waves, creating the illusion of shifting depth.
This interplay challenges traditional concepts of Flatness and Abstraction, inviting viewers to explore a dynamic fusion of canvas material and perceived dimensionality. First exhibited in Tetrachromat, the series has since evolved, becoming more intricate and architectural, showcasing Auerbach's mastery in manipulating space and her innovative approach to bridging visual perception with tangible reality.
Auerglass: a collaborative experimental instrument
In 2015, Tauba Auerbach participated in an artist residency at Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY, where they learned glassworking techniques that later contributed to the Projective Instrument exhibition.
Earlier, in 2009, Auerbach collaborated with musician Cameron Mesirow (Glasser) to design the "Auerglass," a distinctive two-person tracker-action pump organ. Built by Parson's Pipe Organs in Canandaigua, NY, this innovative instrument requires two players, each operating a keyboard with alternating notes on a four-octave scale and pumping air to sustain the other’s notes—making it unplayable alone.
Auerbach and Mesirow initially conceived the project from a playful collaboration, creating a banjo from found objects before envisioning the Auerglass. They debuted the organ at Deitch Projects, performing throughout the show, and since then, the Auerglass has been housed at Future-Past studio in Hudson, NY. This project highlights Auerbach’s dedication to interdisciplinary art, merging visual art, music, and cooperative interaction in a groundbreaking way.
Deconstruction and reassembly of systems
Tauba Auerbach is deeply interested in taking apart and putting back together different systems. This includes language, math, and visual structures. Her early work focused on letters, punctuation, and symbols, breaking them down to find new possibilities.
Her later work continues to explore new ways of seeing and understanding. By taking apart and reassembling systems, she makes us think differently about them. This helps us see the Symbolism and Language that shape our world.
Auerbach's work shows her love for Systems and how they can be broken down and rebuilt. She combines math, science, and art in her work. This encourages us to look at reality in new ways, sparking creativity and discovery.
Typography and graphic interest
Tauba Auerbach's love for language and symbolism started when she was a sign painter in San Francisco. She became fascinated with the look and feel of letters, fonts, and graphic elements. This interest led her to study the deeper meaning of language in her art.
Her work often mixes typography and graphic design in new ways. Auerbach's art makes us think differently about language and how we see written words. Her creative use of graphics shows us new ways to express language visually.
Auerbach's work shows her deep interest in how we see and understand things. By changing how we look at language, her art makes us think about communication and meaning. It encourages us to see the world in new ways.
Notable Exhibitions
In 2013, Tauba Auerbach founded Diagonal Press to formalize their practice in typography and book design. Auerbach’s work is represented in the collections of major institutions, including The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, and the Centre Pompidou. In 2021, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art held S v Z, a comprehensive 17-year survey of Auerbach’s work, while previous exhibitions have been presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland; the Institute of Contemporary Art, London; and Bergen Kunsthall in Norway, which also traveled to venues in Sweden and Belgium.
In 2018, Auerbach’s acclaimed public project Flow Separation was organized by the Public Art Fund in New York Harbor. A major solo exhibition was organized by Bergen Kunsthall, Norway, in 2011, later traveling to Malmö Konsthall, Sweden (2012), and WIELS Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels (2013). Auerbach has also been featured in group exhibitions at venues including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany; and the Kitchen in New York. Their work has been part of prominent events such as the New Museum Triennial (2009) and the Whitney Biennial (2010). Auerbach is a past recipient of the Eureka Fellowship from The Fleischhacker Foundation (2008), the SECA Art Award from SFMOMA (2008), and the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship (2011). They live and work in New York.
FAQ
What are the main themes and influences in Tauba Auerbach's artistic practice?
Tauba Auerbach's work is influenced by math, physics, and logic systems. She looks at the space between two and three dimensions. Her art combines conceptual ideas, abstraction, and design.
Can you tell me more about Auerbach's renowned "Fold Paintings" series?
Auerbach's "Fold Paintings" series is from 2009 to 2013. They are hypnotic, reverse trompe l'oeils. The paint looks like it's glowing, mixing flat and deep space.
What is the "Auerglass" and how did it come to be?
The "Auerglass" is a special instrument Auerbach made with musician Cameron Mesirow. It's a pump organ for two players, needing wind for each other's notes. They started with a banjo made from found items.
Can you describe Auerbach's "Weave Paintings" and how they relate to her exploration of dimensionality?
Auerbach's "Weave Paintings" mix two and three dimensions. They use canvas strips on a frame, showing patterns and waves. This creates a surface that seems to shift between flat and three-dimensional.
How has Auerbach's early experience as a sign painter influenced her artistic practice?
Auerbach's sign painting work in San Francisco sparked her interest in graphics. This led her to explore language and its meaning in her art. Her early work shows her interest in the structure of language.
What are some of the unconventional sources of inspiration that Auerbach draws from?
Auerbach finds inspiration through meditation and focusing on her peripheral vision. She lies down, thinks, and writes notes. This helps her explore beyond our usual three-dimensional space.
What is the significance of Auerbach's interdisciplinary approach to art?
Auerbach's work combines math, science, and language with various media. This approach challenges our view of reality and dimensions. Her art pushes the limits of what we can see and understand.
Selena Mattei
