Jordi Colomer's Dual Exhibitions Explore Urban Space and Utopia

Two simultaneous and complementary exhibitions of Catalan artist Jordi Colomer were held in Brussels: at Palais des beaux-arts (April 29 – June 12, 2011) and at Argos (April 26 – June 18, 2011). The shows focus on video installations that delve into the intersections of fiction and reality, utopia and concrete life, and derision and gravity. Colomer examines urban space in relation to social life and its inherent contradictions. His ambitious recent project, 'L'Avenir,' revolves around the architectural, social, and economic utopia of the phalanstère conceived by Charles Fourier in the 19th century. At Palais des beaux-arts, three films feature protagonists attempting to reconstruct a model of the phalanstère on a windswept beach. The absurdity of the situation parallels the fragility of life, as captured in 24 projections of everyday 21st-century moments sourced from the Internet. At Argos, a filmic triptych presents three parallel shots that prevent a panoramic view, contrasting with the previous installation. The images of three North American suburban areas explore the chaotic relationship between public space and its users, where the collective contends with the individual's attempts to escape.