Dora García
Courtesy Dora García
Dora García is a Spanish visual artist.
After studying visual arts at the University of Salamanca in Barcelona and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, Dora Garcia moved to Brussels. Working from text, archives, and audio files, she narrates both real and fictional stories to question and shake up society. Across a multifaceted body of work (video, writing, performance and installation), she challenges the traditional relationships between artworks and spectators within the exhibition space. Her scenarios combining fiction and reality to the point of confusion create unique situations that are both intellectual and playful, which rely on an active, and sometimes obligatory, participation of the public in the creation, activation or destruction of the work. For Steal This Book (2009), the artist invites visitors to steal a book (the artwork) with the guard’s knowledge. In Forever (2004), a camera films the public in the exhibition space while the image is streamed online in real time.
More than a simple interaction, the spectator is the object of the work: in Instant narrative (2002-2008), the spectator’s actions are described in real time on a computer, and their image is projected onto a wall. Beyond the exhibition space, her narratives often are staged in urban spaces – such as public squares and transport systems – as well as on the internet, which she often uses (Heartbeat, 2000). In addition to performance and video, writing is a preferred means of expression for D. García. She uses various supports: paper (Lettres à d’autres planets, 2005), adhesive letters (Golden sentence, 2005-2009) and video (Oui ou non, 2005). The works of this major artist from the Spanish contemporary scene have been exhibited across international events (Manifesta 2, Luxembourg, 1998; Istanbul Biennial 2003; Venice Biennale, 2011) as well as in solo and group exhibitions (Contemporary Art Museums of Barcelona and Castilla y León; Fonds régional d’art contemporain de Lorraine, Metz; De Appel Foundation, Amsterdam; Reina Sofía Museum, Madrid; SMAK, Ghent).
