Nicoletta Rusconi

Three artists meet at the end of a summer of love and passion. ‘Los vigilantes de la playa’ is an exhibition focusing on paradox and its ambivalence, as well as on the meaning of ‘taking care’, of looking after oneself and of protecting. Although the exhibition title calls to mind a sun-bathed beach, this could turn out to be an inhospitable desert, just as the well-oiled lifeguards — also suggested by the title — could in reality be breathless prison guards.

Are these systems of hedonism or coercion? Do David Renggli’s stainless steel structures resemble altars to fitness or do they look like a guillotine — that is, the blight of the death penalty? Does the view seen from the driving mirror, featured in the foreground of Franz Schmidt’s photograph, show an escape from Guantánamo or somewhere on the sun-drenched coast of California or Mexico? Is the motif with biological and reproductive undertones stamped on Kelly Tippsman’s slack metal mesh enough to repel the spectre of a barbed-wire fence?

Sea and sun or isolation and oblivion? Relaxation or imprisonment? Black or white? Life or death? Only in the realm of representation is the dramatic epilogue the most fascinating choice. And so, after a restful summer and, perhaps, fleeting love affairs, be prepared for the worst: moderate in Franz Schmidt’s works, harsh in Kelly Tippsman’s and deadly in David Renggli’s.

David Renggli, who was born in Zurich in 1974, lives and works in Zurich and Texas. He attended the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich and the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. He had solo exhibitions at the Kunsthalle in Freiburg (2009) and at the Kunsthalle in Winterthur (2006). Entitled ‘You, Can You Recommend Your Psychiatrist?’, his first exhibition in Italy was held at Via Farini, Milan, in 2007. His most important group shows include: Kunsthalle, Bern (2009), Tate Britain, London (2008), Triennale, Milan (2007), Kunsthaus, Zurich (2006).

Franz Schmidt, who was born in Berlin in 1980, lives and works in Berlin and Münster. After studying at the Kunstakademie in Münster with Katharina Fritsch, he has mainly exhibited in private galleries and public spaces in Germany. In 2009 he participated in a group exhibition at the Federal Art Institute in London. This is his first exhibition in Italy.

Kelly Tippsman, who was born in Salvador da Bahia in 1977, lives and works in Glasgow and London. She studied at the Art Institute in San Diego, the University of São Paulo and Yale University. She has exhibited in numerous galleries, museums and alternative spaces in the United States, South America and Europe. For her, too, this is her first exhibition in Italy.

Curated by Milovan Farronato, ‘Los vigilantes de la playa’ will remain open until 9 November 2010.

A Visual essay by Milovan Farronato is available in the gallery.

Private view: 17 September 2010, 6.30 pm onwards

On the occasion of START Milano, the exhibition will be open to the public on Saturday 18 September until 9 pm and Sunday 19 September from 11 am to 7 pm.