Artists Space

virgil b/g taylor: Minor Publics

February 4 – April 23, 2022

A color photograph of a garden with green hedges, large road which appears as a stone path, and trees. Some plant branches are visible directly in the foreground. Centered in the image over the branches is the black outline of a rectangle. The left side of the rectangle is filled in to create a black square.
Composition with Sol LeWitt's "Black Form (Dedicated to the Missing Jews)", (1987) as seen from the Rathaus Altona, Hamburg, DE, October 2021 [A color photograph of a garden with green hedges, large road which appears as a stone path, and trees. Some plant branches are visible directly in the foreground. Centered in the image over the branches is the black outline of a rectangle. The left side of the rectangle is filled in to create a black square.]

virgil b/g taylor: Minor Publics is a large-scale installation exploring the boundaries between art and memorial through research and poetic encounters with Sol LeWitt’s Black Form–Dedicated to the Missing Jews. Originally installed in Münster as part of the 1987 Skulptur Projekte, LeWitt later sold the sculpture to the city of Hamburg in 1989 and donated the fee. Black Form represents an oft-overlooked component of LeWitt’s work that extends beyond his conceptual and dematerialized methodologies to address deeply political and personal questions. The exhibition is framed by a core text by taylor that ruminates on the notion of a “bima”— a Greek and Hebrew architectural term referring to a stage or raised tribune from which to speak. Minor Publics explores Black Form within the context of ongoing debates surrounding the appearance and function of memorials to the victims and survivors of mass violence in metropolitan and colonial landscapes of genocide. taylor’s new compositions unfurl as a series of language-based graphic interventions and study environments that develop an intimate vocabulary around LeWitt’s work while also foregrounding cultures of public memory.

Bima, or בימה, or βήμα, or other words asking you to bring yourself forward and name the lines that hold you in place.

Offered at Artists Space by virgil b/g taylor from New York City and Berlin, DE in 2022, as an unlimited edition beyond a proprietary relationship: a script for Minor Publics.

A portable document format version and large print editions are made available here.

April 21, 2022

virgil b/g taylor:
Fag Tips for Artists Space Book Launch
Book Launch
6:30pm

Nothing, especially study, happens alone. Here is a partial list of those who have sat with me, studied (in every sense) this matter and made this work with me: Adam Khalil, André Bednarz, Anna Arntsen, Anna Montgomery, Ari Nielsson, Aria Farajnejad, Ashkan Sepahvand, Bayley Sweitzer, Ben Miller, Betty Schulz, Carl Gent, Cathleen Schuster, Cosmo Earl Taylor, Danielle A. Jackson, David Taylor, Disha Karnad Jani, Dr. Judith Mundlak Taylor, Elard Lukaczik, Elijah Stevens, Elio Sea, Franziska Bauer, Frauke Alina Becker, Fritz Weber, Gabe Gordon, Hava, Hopscotch Reading Room, Huw Lemmey, JB Brager, Jack Hogan, Jackson Polys, Janet Passehl, Janet Sylvie Goodman, Jay Sanders, Jazmina Figueroa, Jee Chan, Jesse Darling, Julia Spenke, Julija Paškevičiūtė, Jumana Mana, Kyle Croft, Lee Berman, Linda Stupart, Lisa Otto, Lou Thatcher, Mabel Capability Taylor, Marcel Dickhage, Maya Binyam, Michael Jerusalem, Michael Oswell, Miriam Katzeff, Moad Musbahi, Molly Grund, Mona Schieren, Nader Bahsoun, Natascha Sadr Haghighian, Natis, Nefeli Myrodia, Noëlle BuAbbud, Petra König, Rezarta Seferi, Sam Richardson, Sarah Doheny, Shivani Kochar, Sophia Hussain, Stefan Pente, Stella Cilman, Suzy Halajian, Tai Shani, Tamar Shlaim, Tiffany Sia, Ursula Grimm, Vishal Kumaraswamy, WWHIVDD?, Witts, Zach Fischman, Zach Hart, Zack Khalil, Zainab Haidary

virgil b/g taylor is a US faggot living in Germany. He makes fag tips, an online speculative zine. He is one half of sssssssssSsss, a study-friendship with Ashkan Sepahvand, a third of Indefinite Leave to Remain with Moad Musbahi and Vishal Kumaraswamy, and a fraction of What Would An HIV Doula Do?, a collective of artists, writers, caretakers, activists and more gathered in response to the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic. His work explores histories of care, crisis, exclusion and toxicity.

A color photograph of an alleyway. Two sets of grey and yellow posters hang on the brick surface, next to a large black doorway.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of an alleyway. Two sets of grey and yellow posters hang on the brick surface, next to a large black doorway.]
A color photograph of a gallery space. On the left, a large piece of grey and white vinyl hangs from the wall. A row of dark metal columns occupies the center of the space, extending back to a perpendicular section of grey metal scaffolding. On the right of the space there is a large grey table with four red chairs. The table holds a stack of yellow posters and two smaller stacks of grey handouts. The wall on the right has a large window and a blue poster.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space. On the left, a large piece of grey and white vinyl hangs from the wall. A row of dark metal columns occupies the center of the space, extending back to a perpendicular section of grey metal scaffolding. On the right of the space there is a large grey table with four red chairs. The table holds a stack of yellow posters and two smaller stacks of grey handouts. The wall on the right has a large window and a blue poster.]
A color photograph of a gallery space. Behind three dark columns a large vinyl printed with text is attached to the wall, falling to the ground on the left side. In the center a large grey table with four red chairs and stacks of yellow and grey posters is visible.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space. Behind three dark columns a large vinyl printed with text is attached to the wall, falling to the ground on the left side. In the center a large grey table with four red chairs and stacks of yellow and grey posters is visible.]
A color installation photograph of a gallery space with a row of dark metal columns on the left, an exposed interior of a drywall with one grey panel in the center, and a large swath of partially hung grey and yellow vinyl on the right.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color installation photograph of a gallery space with a row of dark metal columns on the left, an exposed interior of a drywall with one grey panel in the center, and a large swath of partially hung grey and yellow vinyl on the right.]
A color photograph of a gallery space with an exposed back section of drywall. The wall features one grey panel with a framed image. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl partialy hangs from the wall, falling in large folds on the right.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space with an exposed back section of drywall. The wall features one grey panel with a framed image. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl partialy hangs from the wall, falling in large folds on the right.]
A color photograph of a gallery space featuring two large windows on the left and a row of dark metal columns in the center. A pile of grey posters, a table with red chairs, hanging framed images, and blue posters are visible in the space. A large grey and yellow vinyl partially hangs from the wall on the right, cascading down to the ground in the far right corner.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space featuring two large windows on the left and a row of dark metal columns in the center. A pile of grey posters, a table with red chairs, hanging framed images, and blue posters are visible in the space. A large grey and yellow vinyl partially hangs from the wall on the right, cascading down to the ground in the far right corner.]
A color photograph of a gallery space. Blue posters hang from the left and rear walls. A large grey table with red chairs is in the center with stacks of yellow and grey posters. To the right of a row of dark metal columns, a large piece of grey and yellow vinyl partially hangs from the wall.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space. Blue posters hang from the left and rear walls. A large grey table with red chairs is in the center with stacks of yellow and grey posters. To the right of a row of dark metal columns, a large piece of grey and yellow vinyl partially hangs from the wall.]
A color photograph of a gallery space with two partial views of windows. In between the windows, two blue posters are attached to the wall. Directly in front of the posters is a large grey table with four red chairs. The table holds a stack of yellow posters and two stacks of smaller grey handouts.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space with two partial views of windows. In between the windows, two blue posters are attached to the wall. Directly in front of the posters is a large grey table with four red chairs. The table holds a stack of yellow posters and two stacks of smaller grey handouts.]
A color photograph of a gallery space. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl hangs from the wall on the left, perpendicular to grey metal scaffolding with semi-transparent fabric on one side. A stack of grey a white posters are placed on the ground directly in front of the scaffold.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl hangs from the wall on the left, perpendicular to grey metal scaffolding with semi-transparent fabric on one side. A stack of grey a white posters are placed on the ground directly in front of the scaffold.]
A color photograph of a gallery space. A small framed photograph hangs from the far wall, perpendicular to a dark metal column next to grey metal scaffolding.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a gallery space. A small framed photograph hangs from the far wall, perpendicular to a dark metal column next to grey metal scaffolding.]
A color installation photograph of a gallery space bisected by a row of dark metal columns. Two wooden chairs are placed near a piece of semi-transparent grey and blue fabric partially hung from a grey metal scaffold. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl hangs from the wall on the right.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color installation photograph of a gallery space bisected by a row of dark metal columns. Two wooden chairs are placed near a piece of semi-transparent grey and blue fabric partially hung from a grey metal scaffold. A large piece of grey and yellow vinyl hangs from the wall on the right.]
A color photograph of a grey and blue piece of semi-transparent fabric, partially hung from a grey metal scaffold in a gallery space.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a grey and blue piece of semi-transparent fabric, partially hung from a grey metal scaffold in a gallery space.]
A color photograph of a windowsill with a larger yellow book and a small black book. The yellow book reads "Sol" in black text. The front book reads "Sol Lewitt Lost Voices Synagogue Stommeln 2005" in white text. To the left of the windowsill is a piece of semitransparent fabric hung from grey metal scaffolding.
virgil b/g taylor, Minor Publics. Installation view, Artists Space, 2022. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color photograph of a windowsill with a larger yellow book and a small black book. The yellow book reads "Sol" in black text. The front book reads "Sol Lewitt Lost Voices Synagogue Stommeln 2005" in white text. To the left of the windowsill is a piece of semitransparent fabric hung from grey metal scaffolding.]

Support is provided by Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The Cy Twombly Foundation, The David Teiger Foundation, The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, Imperfect Family Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, The Willem de Kooning Foundation, The Fox Aarons Foundation, Herman Goldman Foundation, The Destina Foundation, The Luce Foundation, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Arison Arts Foundation, The David Rockefeller Fund, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, The Jill and Peter Kraus Foundation, The Richard Pousette-Dart Foundation.

    A black and white photograph of the base of a monument in a city square. Steps lead up to a pedastal surrounded by three large spheres connected by a metal chain.
    Bases of the equestrian monument to Kaiser Wilhem which was destroyed by the British occupation in Münster after World War II. The photographs were printed as post cards in the early 20th century and collected from eBay and oldthing.de in 2021. [A black and white photograph of the base of a monument in a city square. Steps lead up to a pedastal surrounded by three large spheres connected by a metal chain.]