Since 2004, Christian Tomaszewski has been plunging into the entrails of David Lynch’s cult classic Blue Velvet (1986). Tomaszewski has been meticulously reconstructing parts of the film in real space: exploring the ability of architectural fragments to convey dramatic narrative. Tomaszewski is fascinated by the challenge of superimposing one space and structure onto another: the first, artificially woven together through film editing; the second, a totalizing structure defined by the walls and activities of the exhibition space. Both sets of conventions dissolve in their collision, leading to a third reality, which is a thematic structure in itself.

On Chapels, Caves and Erotic Misery also alludes to Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau and the inexhaustible process of its re-creation. The installation keeps growing and changing with each exhibition and venue. Tomaszewski initiated this project with Luxe Gallery in New York City in 2004 and continued to develop it with Gallery Atlas Sztuki in Lodz, Poland in 2005. A full installation was recently shown at Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz in Germany in 2006. The project was most recently on view at Kunstforum Ostdeutsche Galerie Regensburg in Germany (January 26-March 18, 2007). Tomaszewski evolves and reorganizes the project with each presentation so that each exhibition creates a new, total environment. Completely transforming the lower level of SculptureCenter, Tomaszewski will develop and present the culminating iteration of On Chapels, Caves and Erotic Misery this summer.