Stefan Gec, Crossing Heaven

No Show Space is pleased to present Crossing Heaven an exhibition of new work by Stefan Gec.

In a process of research and reduction Stefan Gec transforms objects to stage intimate, poetic and philosophical engagements with our wider world. Carefully sourced from specific times and places, Gec’s work refers to technologies relating to methods of communication and surveillance. In Crossing Heaven we see three new works, The Gentle Circuit, Crossing Heaven and Long Distance-Short Time.

The Gentle Circuit is a work comprising of two decommissioned tyres from a DC-10 aircraft mounted on individual platforms, with rollers and motors geared to rotate each tyre very slowly. The presence and brutal scale of the tyres dwarf the gallery space. As they slowly rotate in an endless 360-degree journey, we can observe marks embedded in their black rubber surface, evidence of accumulated high-speed landings and take-offs from journeys around the world.

Crossing Heaven is the title of a screen based wireframe animation of the Hubble spacecraft tumbling slowly against a black background. Drawn using technical data from the European Space Agency, the work depicts the Hubble as it orbits the earth in the outer atmosphere observing deep space, photographing and mapping the furthest corners of our solar system and universe.

Long Distance–Short time, presents a working U.S. Air Force parachute from 1952. It's date of manufacture locates it in the early years of the Cold War. Pinned against a wall in the gallery space between ceiling and floor, the parachute’s static presence recalls this moment of time and history.

In contrast to the heavy and tangible presence of The Gentle Circuit, Crossing Heaven is an ethereal representation of distant surveillance in the silent and insular tones of space. The three works are united through their implied movement - the endless revolution of the tyres, the tumbling representation of the telescope and the parachute’s poised inertia. In unison the works connect the experience of flight and space.

Stefan Gec born 1958 currently lives in West Yorkshire. Gec is acclaimed for works including Trace Elements 1990, made from metal recovered from decommissioned Soviet submarines and Buoy 1995 - 2000. He has shown at Annely Juda Fine Art, London and will be represented by them at Frieze Art Fair in October 2012. Gec has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally and his shortlisted maquette for the Fourth Plinth, Mannequin 2003, will be shown at the ICA, London in December 2012.