Against the Grain

Against the Grain
13 May – 26 June 2022

MMS2 is pleased to present Against the Grain, a solo exhibition by renowned British artist Tacita Dean. This exhibition brings together a selection of Dean’s significant works, highlighting her mastery of film, photography, and drawing as mediums for exploring the passage of time, memory, and the ephemeral nature of human experience.

Dean’s films, often shot on 16mm celluloid, capture fleeting moments and transform them into contemplative meditations. Through long takes, subtle shifts in light, and carefully composed frames, she invites viewers to immerse themselves in the unfolding narratives and discover the hidden poetry within seemingly ordinary scenes.

The exhibition features a range of Dean’s iconic works, including Fernsehturm (2001), a mesmerizing film that captures the slow rotation of Berlin’s iconic television tower; The Green Ray (2001), an elusive atmospheric phenomenon captured on film during a sunset. In addition to her films, the exhibition also showcases a selection of Dean’s photographs and drawings, such as her photogravures of clouds and her blackboard drawings of trees, which offer further insights into her artistic process and conceptual investigations.

Against the Grain celebrates Tacita Dean’s unwavering commitment to analog media and her unique ability to capture the essence of time and memory through her art. This exhibition invites visitors to slow down, engage with the present moment, and contemplate the beauty and fragility of the world around them.