Abstraction in Action
Gala Berger https://abstractioninaction.com/projects/gala-berger-project/
Gala Berger Wordings
Curated by Marina Reyes Franco The Wooden Floor, Santa Ana, CA, USA
Three years ago, Gala Berger met Lin Hsuan. The patinings that Berger developed afterward, shown as part of the Sayago & Pardon collection at The Wooden Floor, seem playful and abstract yet also tell a story of migration, translation, diplomatic issues, postal bureaucracy and language. The 88 works that make up this exhibition are part of a larger bid at grasping the Chinese language-so visual, poetic, conceptual-through her own art. Painting on Mao bianzhi paper, a tool used at Chinese schools to teach traditional calligraphy, Berger attempts an intuitive approach to language. Part repetitive task, part painting as social practice, Berger knows she can, at best, be a mere translator, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.
Gala Berger conoció a Lin Hsuan hace tres años. Las obras que Berger creó posteriormente, actualmente expuestas por la colección Sayago & Pardon en The Wooden Floor, parecen lúdicas y abstractas, sin embargo, cuentan, además, una historia de migración, traducción, burocracia postal, y de trabas diplomáticas y lingüísticas. Los 88 trabajos que componen esta exhibición, son parte de un esfuerzo superior para comprender el idioma chino-tan visual, poético, conceptual-a través de su propia obra. Pintando sobre papel Mao bianzhi, que es utilizado en las escuelas chinas para enseñar técnicas de caligrafía tradicional, Berger intent acercarse intuitivamente al lenguaje. Parte tarea repetitiva, parte pintura como práctica social, Berger sabe que puede, como mucho, ser una mera traductora, pero eso no le impide intentarlo.
Gala Berger, “Red Bean Jello”, 2009, Installation, military tent, recycled plastic, 300 x 180 x 400 cm. Site specific project. Location: Anyang Market, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist.
Gala Berger, “Chino para principiantes”, 2010-2011-2012, Series: Chino para principiantes, Drawing on Mao Benzhi paper, 21.59 x 35.56 cm. Photo credit: Facundo Pires.
Gala Berger, “Las puertas”, 2013, Series: Relocalizaciones, Installation, plastic and ink, Variable dimensions. Site specific project. Location: Tepoztlán, Mexico. Image courtesy of the artists.
Gala Berger, “Red Bean Jello”, 2009, Installation, military tent, recycled plastic, 300 x 180 x 400 cm. Site specific project. Location: Anyang Market, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist.
Gala Berger, “Pollo Frito”, 2011, Mask, fabric and paper, Variable dimensions. Photo credit: Facundo Pires.
Gala Berger, “La tierra permanece”, 2011, Installation, 27 paints / 27 plants, Variable dimensions, Site specific project. Location: Jardín Oculto. Image courtesy of the artist.
Gala Berger, “thoreau”, 2010, Plastic, rubber, paper, Variable dimensions. Photo credit: Juan Chaneton.
Gala Berger, “La piedra que cambió las cosas”, 2013, Series: La piedra que cambió las cosas, Wood, collectible bills, Variable dimensions. Image courtesy of the artist.
Gala Berger, “Agua Viva”, 2010, Installation, plastic, paint, tape, Variable dimensions, Site specific project. Location: Aeroparque de Buenos Aires. Photo credit: Juan Chaneton.
Gala Berger, “Nacido Salvaje”, 2013, Paper, Variable dimensions, Site specific project. Photo credit: Facundo Pires.
Gala Berger, “Pintura bisexual”, 2011, Painting with two sides, Side A oil, Side B ink, 190 x 140 cm. Photo credit: Facundo Pires.
Gala Berger, “Sucursal”, 2012, Billboard, Variable dimensions, Site specific project. Location: in front of Mamba, Argentina. Image courtesy of the artist.
Gala Berger, “s/t”, 2013, Jelly and wire on overhead projector, Variable dimensions. Image courtesy of the artist.