Uncertain States of America was a survey of recent developments in American art organised in collaboration with the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo.
The exhibition featured more than 40 artists and surveyed practices spanning appropriation, Pop and socio-political critique. The manifestation of Uncertain States at the Serpentine Gallery updated the project from its inauguration at the Astrup Fearnley Museum in autumn 2005 and subsequent restaging at Bard College, New York, in summer 2006, and serves as a launch pad for future presentations in Iceland, Poland, Russia and China.
Participating artists: Allora & Calzadilla, Edgar Arceneaux, Devendra Banhart, Frank Benson, Jennifer Bornstein, Mike Bouchet, Matthew Brannon, Anthony Burdin, Paul Chan, Sean Dack, Trisha Donnelly, Jim Drain, Shannon Ebner, Piero Golia, Hannah Greely, Taft Green, Guyton\Walker, Karl Haendel, Christian Holstad, Shane Huffman, Jiae Hwang, Matthew Day Jackson, Matt Johnson, Miranda July, Klara Liden, Nate Lowman, Daria Martin, Matt McCormick, Rodney McMillian, Ohad Meromi, Kori Newkirk, Seth Price, Adam Putnam, Reena Spaulings, Cristina Lei Rodriguez, Matthew Ronay, Mika Rottenberg, Aïda Ruilova, Paul Sietsema, Josh Smith, Mika Tajima, TM Sisters, Jordan Wolfson, Mario Ybarra Jr, Aaron Young.
The exhibition is not entirely American—influences come from everywhere... In a period where the official political culture of the United States is viewed with great scepticism on the other side of the Atlantic, it seems important to remind ourselves of this complexity. The Uncertain States of America are not only uncertain, they are many.
Daniel Birnbaum, Gunnar Kvaran and Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Sean Dack's work was presented in conjunction with the exhibition Twilight Town, Videos by Sean Dack, The Moore Space, Miami, 9 September 2006 to 1 February 2007.
Matthew Ronay, whose work was featured in Uncertain States, concurrently had his first solo exhibition in the UK, Goin’ Down, Down, Down at Parasol unit, to 8 November 2006. Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art is located at 14 Wharf Road in London N1.
