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Institute of Contemporary Art Miami

Paul Maheke: The Distance is Nowhere

<cite>The Distance is Nowhere</cite> performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo, Italy. Curated by Stella Sideli. Photo: Overall Adv.
The Distance is Nowhere performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo, Italy. Curated by Stella Sideli. Photo: Overall Adv.

Paul Maheke’s performances and installations explore the potential of the body as an archive and how history, memory, and identity are formed and constituted through the body. With particular attention to dance, Maheke’s performances reflect on representations of queer Blackness in Western imaginations.

For ICA Performs, Paul Maheke presents The Distance is Nowhere, a performance created in collaboration with artist and filmmaker Sophie Mallett in 2018. Combining sound, text, and movement, The Distance is Nowhere explores transitional spaces, using water as a metaphor for the pathways among the body, information and knowledge, and sociopolitical and historical concerns. Accompanied by Mallett’s score, Maheke’s composition moves across a platform situated in the open space of the sculpture garden, translating sound and text into movement.

Paul Maheke (b. 1985, Brive-la-Gaillarde, France) lives and works in London. They received an MA in art practice from École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy and completed the Associates Programme at Open School East, London. Previous solo exhibitions have been presented at Vleeshal Middelburg, the Netherlands; Chisenhale Gallery, London; Galerie Sultana, Paris; Assembly Point, London; Center, Berlin; and South London Gallery. Select group exhibitions include those at Tate Modern, London; Diaspora Pavilion, 57th Venice Biennale; and Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, among others.

This program is organized by ICA Miami and curated by Stephanie Seidel, Associate Curator.

The Distance is Nowhere performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo
The Distance is Nowhere performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo, Italy. Curated by Stella Sideli. Photo: Overall Adv.
The Distance is Nowhere performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo
The Distance is Nowhere performed by Paul Maheke and Sophie Mallett at Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Palermo, Italy. Curated by Stella Sideli. Photo: Overall Adv.

Schedule

Thurs June 6, 7pm
Fri June 7, 7pm

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