ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-> by Samuel Adam SWOPE is a Situationist’s experiment with urban behaviours. Third in a trilogy, the work looks into the ritual of flyer distribution. Such phenomenon can be reduced to a three part formula: Input, obstruction by the distributor; Process, the confronted decides between engagement and avoidance; Output, action. The artist challenges social reflexes by replacing the cue with kinetic sculptures in everyday interactions.

The exhibition is comprised of a modified catapult, engineering drawings and documentations of its guerrilla performance. In a video, the metallic contraption fires paper planes from a factory rooftop. The vehicles are inscribed with Swope’s name without further explanation. Though aggression is retained through the rhythm and vehemence of the machine, the artist removes physical confrontation in favour of grace. Astound pedestrian watch and wonder as the origami flyers ascend the air. Swope’s employment of mechanics and his processual analysis of behaviour is a far cry from any intent to displace humanity. The practice of defamiliarization, through the labour of eliminating the human variable, is in fact a conscious engagement with his reality. Though the work attracts critiques of the human condition, Swope does not set any hypothesis nor make any social commentary. He is an inventor of novel situations. Samuel Adam Swope received his BA in Fine arts with emphasis in sculpture from Missouri State University in 2007 and completed a study abroad programme between 2006 and 2007 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He recently participated in a residency program at Vermont Studio Center and has received a full merit based scholarship to study at School of the Art Institute of Chicago beginning in Autumn 2012.

The artist is available for interview and will be at the opening reception.