robert lendrum @ ryerson gallery

LIVING DOCUMENTS:
Dr. Frankenstein's Guide to Self-Portraiture

Robert Lendrum

Wednesday, March 18th - Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 19th, 6-9pm

Ryerson Gallery is pleased to present Living Documents: Dr. Frankenstein's Guide to Self-Portraiture, a video-based installation by Robert Lendrum. Manipulating information, documents, and research methods, Lendrum creates performative representations of identity and memory that highlight the disconnect between personal data and persona. Lendrum's project begins with a survey about his identity involving the participation of over 75 of his friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances and ex-girlfriends. Converting the information into an identity profile with statistics, pie charts and graphs, the raw data is brought to life in a series of performance videos with Dutch actress Jacqueline van de Geer. Lendrum also examines his own family photographs through a process of reenactment manifesting as durational video performances. Asserting his belief that identity is co-authored, Lendrum's work is both self-portrait and social experiment.

An essay by Gabrielle Moser accompanies the exhibition

Information about the artist:
Robert Lendrum (b. 1979) was raised between the suburbs of Toronto and the rural area hamlet of Fallbrook, Ontario. An emerging artist working in video, performance and documentary, his work explores the tension between perceived identity and self-perception. He received his BFA from the University of Western Ontario and his MA in Media Studies at Concordia University. Now completing his MFA in Documentary Media at Ryerson University, he currently lives and works in Toronto.

Image credit: Robert Lendrum Impostor: The Audition (2009) video. production still by John Londono.

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Media Contact:
Sarah Burtscher,
Media Coordinator
sarah.burtscher@ryerson.ca

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M5V 2J4

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Gallery Hours:
Wednesday - Saturday 12:00-5:00PM