Rodney Graham: That's Not Me

The figure of the artist remains a central subject of investigation for Rodney Graham, known for straddling many areas simultaneously--painter, photographer, writer, philosopher, actor, psychologist, scientist, and musician.This new monograph gathers together works made between 1994 and 2017, in particular his photographic lightboxes and his musical production.Contradicting the title, That's Not Me the lightbox series focuses on the use of the self-portrait. Graham shows himself starring in various fictional roles (artist, musician, actor, lighthouse keeper, paddler, reader) at different times.According to curator Alessandro Vincentelli, Graham likes to look back at history and repeat it through his work, by 'stirring up art history with multiple and varied cultural references, so that the signals are subtly altered for the viewer.'Through his visual production, Rodney Graham questions the fundamental perception of the image and invites the public to participate in shaping its meaning.This title also highlights Graham's musical works. In his essay Robert Linsley retraces Graham's career as a musician and observes the connections that can be made between some of the songs and Graham's visual production.Published with BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, in association with IMMA, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; and on the occasion Rodney Graham's exhibition, That's Not Me at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (17 March - 11 June 2017).