Uta Barth
June 6 - July 20, 2025 | Southern California Institute of Architecture Gallery, Los Angeles
Uta Barth, Field #9, 1995
Split Diopter 2 explores the relationship between fine art and cinema, as well as the impact of technical optics on creative practice. This exhibition disassembles the cinematic apparatus of the “waking dream” into a collection of parts: still frame, action sequence, mise-en-scene, soundtrack, film reel, promotional poster, etc.—each of which is assigned to an individual work of art. Navigating this array of objects in the space of the gallery, viewers are enjoined to imagine their own filmic narrative, while also reflecting on its material means of construction.
Split Diopter 2 features works by Uta Barth, Matthew Brannon, John Divola, Alex Israel, William E. Jones, and Hedi El Kholti. A soundtrack has been composed for the exhibition by Eyvind Kang. Also included is a dance video shot with a split diopter lens, choreographed by Brian Golden and performed by Jas Lin, Madison Ostrach, and Euseon Song. Finally, Split Diopter 2 presents a documentary in which artists Stan Douglas, Lynne Marsh, Patti Podesta, Jeffrey Stuker, and Liam Young discuss the influence of cinema on their respective practices.
*Split Diopter 2 is based on Split Diopter held at Chapman University’s Guggenheim Gallery and Co-Curated by Guggenheim Gallery Director, Marcus Herse.