Daniel Steegmann Mangran201623The Green ParrotDid not want to have human form, human flesh or human matter

Stela do PatrocnioMaurice Merleau-PontyRoger Caillois

This catalogue documents a project for which Steegmann Mangran intends to reframe the history of abstraction, inviting us to re-evaluate the traditional division between nature and culture. It features a selection of works inspired by the artist’s readings, from Roger Caillois to Merleau-Ponty.

I was pure gases, air, empty space, time, / I was air, empty space, time / And pure gases, like that, see, empty space, see / I had no form / I had no formation / I had no place to make a head / Make arms, make body / Make ears, make nose / Make the roof of a mouth, make chatter / Make muscle, make teeth
I had nowhere to make any of those things / Make head, think about any one think / Be useful, intelligent, be reasoning / I had nowhere to draw any of those things / I was pure empty spaceStela do Patrocnio

The Spiral Forest accompanies Daniel Steegmann Mangran’s 2016 solo exhibition held at The Green Parrot, Fundaci Antoni Tpies in Barcelona. The artist’s multimedia practice encompasses film, sculpture, video, photography, drawing, and installation. By connecting geometric and abstract forms with natural elements, Steegmann Mangran intends to reframe the history of abstraction through non-hierarchical and non-human-centric theories of the world, inviting us to re-evaluate our point of view and reshape the traditional division between nature and culture.
The volume is a compilation of materials built out of a number of influential textsincluding some poems by Stela do Patrocnio, an excerpt by Maurice Merleau-Ponty, a text by Roger Cailloisplus sets of images illustrating exhibitions, projects, and works, which ask the reader to build their own understanding of Steegmann Mangran’s practice and concept of life.

Published following the exhibition Did not want to have human form, human flesh or human matter at The Green Parrot Fundaci Antoni Tpies, Barcelona, from February 17 to March 18, 2016.