ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Martin Beck’s Ambient Art at the Aldrich

exhibition · 2026-04-24

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is showcasing Martin Beck’s exhibition until October 5, 2025, which is inspired by Irving Teibel’s early ambient music from 1969 to 1979. Austrian multimedia artist Beck integrates film clips with Teibel’s audio recordings, alongside objects like a curtain and a mirror, to examine how structures signify the passage of time. The highlight is 'in place (environments)' (2020), an 11-part video projection created in Beck’s Joshua Tree residence, which aligns with Teibel’s albums. The footage captures sunlight and wildlife, imbuing minor occurrences with significant meaning. Additionally, 'Set/Setting (SD66004, SD66005)' (2021) displays testimonials on a Teibel album cover, prompting reflections on utilitarian concepts and the nature of time.

Key facts

  • Exhibition at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT, through October 5, 2025
  • Martin Beck is an Austrian artist known for multimedia exhibitions addressing exhibition design
  • Exhibition responds to Irving Teibel’s environments series (1969–79), albums of field recordings
  • Centerpiece is 'in place (environments)' (2020), an 11-part video projection
  • Each part is 11 minutes long, shot in real time from Beck’s desert home in Joshua Tree, California
  • Video begins at sunrise and jumps chronologically to sunset
  • Teibel’s soundtracks are physically enveloping; minor onscreen events gain dramatic weight
  • 'Set/Setting (SD66004, SD66005)' (2021) includes a testimonial reading 'Even better than the real thing'
  • Beck questions utilitarian self-help framework through disjunct between visuals and sounds
  • Mirror (183 × 113, 2014) and 'Curtain' (2018/25) are framing gestures
  • Four oversize graphite drawings of fern patches are included
  • 'working forwards (April 1–30, 2024)' (2024) presents daily drawings and jottings in a calendar grid

Entities

Artists

  • Martin Beck
  • Irving Teibel

Institutions

  • The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
  • ArtReview

Locations

  • Ridgefield
  • Connecticut
  • United States
  • Joshua Tree
  • California

Sources