Perhaps you are familiar with the term normcore, which bubbled up through the web late last year to be embraced by several major media outlets. Propagated by the trend-forecasting group K Hole, normcore rejects, in theory, all alternatives in favor of sameness. An oft-cited example of the term’s use is as it applies to fashion: when one spots someone wearing Seinfeld’s “Dad” jeans… No further explanation required, right? Yet you could argue that one person’s take on individuality is another person’s idea of sameness and vice versa. Thus, attempts to pinpoint what is normcore are as futile as defining radical difference. Taking inspiration from the typewritten poetry of Carl Andre and the rarely seen furniture design of David Lynch, the summer show brings together a range of works that play with the line between deviance and conformity. After all, we are all reacting to something or someone somewhere, so why not give it a new name, again.
An opening reception will take place on Thursday 3 July 6-8pm.
The author Porochista Khakpour on “HOW TO BE NORMAL” 2014:
“WEAR JEANS. LIKE ICE CREAM. LOVE SUMMER. FAVORITE COLOR: BLUE. PREFER BLONDES. ENJOY PIZZA. WANT MONEY. BE AMERICAN. GO TO MUSEUM FOR NO MORE THAN 2 HOURS. BAKE COOKIES, FOLLOW RECIPE. HAVE A CAT. HAVE A DOG. DO NOT HAVE TOO MANY CATS. BE HETEROSEXUAL. CRITICIZE AMERICA. LISTEN TO MACKLEMORE. HAVE SEX A FEW TIMES A WEEK. ENJOY MONOGAMY. BELIEVE IN WOMEN. BE AGAINST VIOLENCE. FIND CHILDREN DELIGHTFUL. WANT KIDS. CALL YOUR MOTHER. ORDER CHINESE FOOD. READ YOUR FORTUNE COOKIE FORTUNE. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. FOLLOW ADVICE. SAY HELLO TO YOUR CAB DRIVER. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT. TRUST. WANT. NEED. MEDITATE. READ ABOUT ZEN. GIVE TO GOODWILL. BUY THINGS ON SALE. RENT. DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE. HAVE POPULAR OPINIONS. SPEND TIME ON THE INTERNET. LOOK AT FACEBOOK. TWEET INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES. INSTAGRAM YOUR BRUNCH. MEET PEOPLE FOR BRUNCH. TRY TO DATE ONLINE. ONLY MEET FOR COFFEE. KISS ON THE SECOND DATE. PUT A RING ON IT. BE WHITE. BE SOMEONE WHITE PEOPLE WILL LIKE. WHOLE WHEAT BREAD. AVOCADO TOAST. CINNAMON BUN SMELL. DIET. SIZE 6-8. GIVE HUGS. YELLOW LAB. HATE INSECTS. SUSHI. OBSERVE EXPIRATION DATES. WILD NOT FARMED. GRASS-FED. ORGANIC. CAGE-FREE. SKIM. RUN. JUMP ROPE. LONG WALKS ON THE BEACH. SUNSETS. ADVENTURE. PARTNER IN CRIMES. KARAOKE. ROCK WALL CLIMBING. ROLLER SKATING. JET-SKIING. HIKING. NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS. BIRKENSTOCKS. J.CREW. WORK 8 HRS A DAY. SLEEP 8 HOURS A DAY. 8 MORE HOURS TO DO OTHER THINGS. CROSSWORDS. MEALS. NAPS. PUT “NAPPING” IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE LIST OF THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO. DO NOT STALK. GOOGLE. REMEMBER. FORGIVE. GIVE UP. BE YOUNG. BE SCARED OF BEING OLD. AVOID THE ELDERLY. DO NOT WRITE A WILL. THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS. WEAR SUNSCREEN. NOT TOO MUCH SUNSCREEN. AVOID POLLUTANTS. NO SECOND-HAND SMOKE. FEAR MERCURY. AVOID FISH. EAT 35 TONS OF FOOD IN YOUR LIFETIME. SUSPECT TAP WATER. DO NOT INHALE. COUNT BREATHS. CRY. BE 25 OR OLDER. MAKE $32,000. SPEND MONEY. HATE YOUR BODY. LASER. COLLAGEN. SILICON. 450 HAIRS IN YOUR EYEBROWS. GET RID. CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE ONCE BUT NOT SERIOUSLY. WISH SOMEONE WOULD DIE. UNDO THAT THOUGHT. TRUST YOUR MIND. WANT OUT. WANT IN. WANTS NOT NEEDS. NEED LOVE. NEVER ASK FOR LOVE. BE A LITTLE BIT DEPRESSED. MEDICATE. GO TO THERAPY. GET BETTER. GET DEPRESSED AGAIN. LAUGH AT YOURSELF. CRY ONLY AT NIGHT. WONDER. ASK YOUR EX. WRITE A NOTE. DELETE IT. MAKE NEW FRIENDS. DO THINGS YOU’D NEVER DO. LOSE YOURSELF. LOVE EMINEM. LOVE POPULAR CULTURE. ASK WHO AM I. WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM. WHO HAVE YOU BECOME. LISTEN TO THE ANSWER. DON’T HEAR IT RIGHT. WISH FOR THINGS THAT CAN’T HAPPEN. WORLD PEACE. RECYCLE. NO FRACKING. DO NOT DO DRUGS. SAVE A DOLPHIN. ADOPT A TREE. GIVE A BABY SOME MONEY. TRY TO FIND MEANING. LOOK BOTH WAYS. TAKE THE ROAD ANY ROAD. DO NOT SECOND GUESS. TRUST NO ONE. WEAR BELTS. USE A BELT. USE BANDAIDS. CUT. CUT IT OUT. BLEED. HIDE. DON’T FORGET TO DO YOUR TAXES.”
For downloadable exhibition material, click here.
