James Clar (b. 1979 USA)
James Clar is a media artist whose work is a fusion of technology, popular culture, and visual information. His work explores the limitations of various communication mediums and its effect on the individual and society. Focusing on the visual arts, his work often controls and manipulates light - the common intersection of all visual mediums.
Clar studied film as an undergraduate at New York University focusing on 3D Animation, then continued on to his Masters at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. It was here that he moved away from screen-based work and started working directly with light, creating sculptural lighting pieces. By developing his own systems with which to manipulate light, he discovered he could create unique visual displays, as well as circumvent the limitations of screen-based work, namely resolution and two-dimensionality.
While his early work dealt with analysing how technology and media work, a move to the Middle East in 2007 has seen his focus shift to how technology and media affect. As an American living in Dubai, his work has progressed towards deeper conceptual themes. These include nationalism, globalism, and popular culture in the age of mass information, and often analyses the discrepancy in information between Western media and Middle Eastern media along with its effects on people.
Clar's other achievements include three patents in the US for new engineering systems created while developing his light art. He was an artist in residence at Eyebeam Atelier in New York, Fabrica in Italy, and the FedEx Institute of Technology/Lantana Projects in Memphis. His artwork has been included in the Chanel Mobile Art exhibition (Tokyo), The New Museum of Contemporary Arts (New York), The Chelsea Art Museum (New York), and The Somerset House (UK).
Solo Exhibitions:
2010
What Goes Around Comes Around, Caprice Horn Gallery, Berlin
Acceleration, Art Dubai 2010 - Traffic, Dubai
2009
For Your Eyes Only, Traffic, Dubai
2008
Galerie Roger Tator, Festival of Light, Lyon
2007
Lab [AU], Brussels
2006
SubSpace South, Memphis
Material Art Gallery, Memphis
Group Exhibitions:
2010
THE STATE, Traffic, Dubai
SCOPE Basel, Basel
Art Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2009
The Singular Suit, Somerset House
2008
My Name is Robot, Jam Jar Gallery, Dubai
Cliche in a Box, Traffic, Dubai
Chanel Mobile Art Tokyo, Tokyo
2007
Museum of Science and Innovation, Tokyo
Tiger Translate, New York
2006
Pop!Tech conference, Maine
Wired Next Fest, New York
9th Japan Media Arts Festival, Museum of Photography, Tokyo
On-Site: New Architecture in Spain, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
2005
NHK Digital Arts Festival, Tokyo
Seoul Design Festival, Seoul
WIRED NextFest, Chicago
8th Japan Media Arts Festival, Museum of Photography, Tokyo
Milan Triennial, Milan
2004
VIPER Basel, Basel
The Chelsea Art Museum, New York
Siggraph Manila Animation Festival, New York
Digital Arts at CroBar, New York
Compact-Impact Night, TKNY, New York
2003
Remote Lounge, New York
New Museum of Contemporary Arts, New York
Siggraph NYC MetroCAF, New York
ITP Spring Show, New York
New York Dance and Arts, New York
“Junichi and Friends”, New York