Rafael Pérez Evans, Insulin
21 Oct - 19 Nov 2022
Insulin is both the title of the exhibition and the most recent work by artist Rafael Pérez Evans on view at No Show Space between 20 October and 19 November 2022.
For Insulin Pérez Evans has sourced and temporarily relocated agricultural machinery and 1000 kg of animal grade oat grain from Cumbria to London. In the project space, the machinery is arranged into an infinity fountain for the sucking up and spewing out of grain from one heap to the other. The agricultural purpose of the machines are for the transfer of large quantities of grain for storage. In the confines of the space, the motorised work carries out a manic stockpiling. In the dual action of extraction and dumping, of swallowing and defecating, a deranged metabolic system comes into play with all of the noise and smells that entails.
The title also references storage in the role insulin takes in the body's capacity to store and control blood glucose levels. Insulin spikes abound in the stress scape of the post-industrial city, pushing the body to crave. Our digestive surplus is then stored as glucose, and paid into fats. Through this economy of excess, Pérez Evans reminds us the world systems around us are not only an extension of our minds, but also of our enteric nervous system, and thus biochemistry.
This is part of a growing body of work from Pérez Evans that includes: Ictus, 2022 to be exhibited at PLATA, Córdoba, Spain; Pica, 2022 at TEA Museum Tenerife, Spain; Handful, 2021 at Henry Moore Institute, Leeds and Grounding, 2020 at Goldsmiths University.
Pérez Evans lives and works in London and Spain. He received a BA and an MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2010 and 2020 respectively and commenced a PhD at Oxford University in the autumn of 2022.
The motorised work is conceived as a never-ending cycle however due to the ongoing climate and energy crises, and the necessity to reduce energy use it will function for limited periods only. After the period of the exhibition, all mechanical elements will be returned to use and the grain will be used as animal feed.
Opening hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 12 - 6 pm or by appointment. For further information please email tina@noshowspace.com
The installation contains moving grain and dust, masks are provided at the door.
If you have allergies, sensitivities to gluten/oats, asthma or any respiratory condition we kindly ask you to view the work from the window.
Generously funded by Henry Moore Foundation
