James Coleman's Background (1991-1994) Concludes Slide-Tape Trilogy at Irish Museum of Modern Art
James Coleman's slide-tape projection, Background, created between 1991 and 1994, concluded a trilogy exhibited at Dublin's Irish Museum of Modern Art from 2006 to 2008. Set within a palaeontology laboratory, the narrative involves characters Tom, Joe, Jill, and an unnamed woman, echoing themes of love. Through the use of projected images and audio narration, Coleman delves into concepts of reconstruction, memory, and the interplay of voice and image, while also reflecting on photography's association with mortality. Unlike previous works, Background introduces intricate human dynamics to perception allegories. This trilogy also encompasses I N I T I A L S (1993-94) and Lapsus Exposure (1992-94). It has inspired artists such as Doug Aitken and Steve McQueen, referencing Living and Presumed Dead (1983-85) and concluding with a raven traversing between rooms.
Key facts
- Background, 1991-1994 is the final installment of a trilogy shown at the Irish Museum of Modern Art from 2006-2008
- The trilogy includes I N I T I A L S (1993-94) from 2006 and Lapsus Exposure (1992-94) from 2007
- All three works use projected slide images with synchronized audio narration
- Background unfolds in a palaeontology laboratory, unlike earlier installations in an abandoned hospital and recording studio
- The work features four characters: Tom, Joe, Jill, and an unnamed woman
- Coleman's work has influenced Doug Aitken, Douglas Gordon, and Steve McQueen
- Rosalind Krauss compares Coleman's approach to Chris Marker's La Jetée
- The piece references Coleman's earlier work Living and Presumed Dead (1983-85)
Entities
Artists
- James Coleman
- Doug Aitken
- Douglas Gordon
- Steve McQueen
- Chris Marker
- Michelangelo Antonioni
- Yasujiro Ozu
- Alain Resnais
- Rosalind Krauss
- Roland Barthes
- Jorge Luis Borges
- Jean Fisher
- Tim Stott
Institutions
- Irish Museum of Modern Art
- Afterall
Locations
- Dublin
- Ireland
Sources
- Afterall —