Michael Stevenson

Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present our first solo exhibition by the New Zealand artist Michael Stevenson.

Signs & Wonders is a constellation of four home-built flight simulators in the gallery that takes the viewer on a network of silent, imaginary plane rides using a physically constructed cockpit and a virtually constructed terrain in the form of computer software. The flights transport us to remote areas in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, where small planes play a vital role in navigating the difficult terrain. Thus, the aeroplane holds particular significance for the local population as well as Christian missionaries in the region.

Connecting subjects such as religion, aviation, education, anthropology and globalisation, the exhibition continues on from Michael Stevenson’s previous projects whose characteristic sculptural installations interlace anecdotes, history writing and current affairs.

The exhibition at Carl Freedman is the third iteration of Signs & Wonders, the two earlier presentations being held at Kunsthal Charlottenborg (Copenhagen, 2015) and Midway Contemporary Art (Minneapolis, 2016).

At 7.30pm on Thursday 9th June, Michael Stevenson will talk about the show and his practice with Jan Verwoert, the German art critic and contributing editor at Frieze magazine.