Neïl Beloufa: Counting on People

Walter Phillips Gallery, in collaboration with the Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, presents the first North American solo exhibition of new work by the French and Algerian artist Neïl Beloufa. Working in video and sculpture, Beloufa's work questions the role of the artist as an image-maker but also the purpose and agency of images today.
The exhibition, Counting on People is the North American premiere of two new video artworks by Beloufa, Home is Whenever I am With You and Data for Desire (both 2014), co?commissioned by Walter Phillips Gallery, The Banff Centre and the Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA), London. The first, Data for Desire (2014) explores and predicts via mathematical algorithms the romantic actions of a group of young people within a constructed environment. The second co?commission, Home is Whenever I'm With You (2014) provides an insight into the ways we communicate via social media and engage with information on the internet through Skype, Youtube and Vine. Also included are two previous works, Vengeance (2014), which documents a collaboration between a group of youths in the Parisian suburbs. The teenagers developed a film script and took part in producing this work with the artist. Finally, a geopolitical role?play titled Domination of the World (2012), shows the outcomes of a meeting of non-professional actors who attempt to make decisions about local and international politics.
Fascinated by an ever?changing constellation of signs and signals, Beloufa explores the deception of images, framed situations and palpable impressions of the already seen or experienced. Ultimately, Beloufa puts the viewer at the heart of his exhibition arrangements, offering familiar images of the world, that are simultaneously deconstructed through their codes, symbols, myths and economic systems.
Co-commissioned by Walter Phillips Gallery, The Banff Centre, Canada and Institute for Contemporary Arts, London. Production: Bad Manner's. Supported by DICRéAM, The Consulate General of France in Vancouver, The Danjuma Collection and Beaux Arts Paris, France.
Walter Phillips Gallery
Visual + Digital Art at The Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
www.banffcentre.ca