Catalogue > At random

Peter Downsbrough (1940, New Brunswick, N.J.) studied architecture and art. Around the mid-1960’s, after several years of work and exploring materials, including cardboard, wood, steel, lead, neon tubing, an evolution took place which resulted, in 1970, in the work with the ‘Two Pipes’ (outside), ‘Two Dowels’ (inside) and ‘Two Lines’ (on paper). At the same time, he also started taking photographs to document these pieces. By taking photographs from different angles and distances, he gradually started taking photographs of ‘cuts’ that already existed in the urban landscape. Some of these photographs were used in books, some appeared in magazines, but it wasn’t until 1980 that they showed up in exhibitions. From 1977 on, Downsbrough realized several videos as well as audiotapes. A record was made in 1978 and released in 1982. Looking to expand the vocabulary, he developed a series of works using dice. In 1980, on the Spectacolor Board on Times Square, New York, he realized a piece, a 30 seconds spot shown once every hour for four days, and documented it in a short film, ‘7 come 11’. Around 1980, he also started using regular postcards, initially by applying two lines, later to be followed by the use of words. The work with models as a means of exploring space and structure started around 1983. The first commissioned public work was a wall piece realized in Rennes, France, 1990. The film ‘Occupied’was produced in 2000, ten years after it was conceived. Since then, several films, shot with a digital camera, have been published as dvd’s. Today, all these disciplines occupy the field of his activities. Downsbrough’s interest for industrial architecture takes many forms. More often than not, ‘preservation’ means survival in the form of a film or photo series. His films and photos always capture an industrial or (sub)urban reality that will sooner or later vanish or be subject to redevelopment ‘ be it late Seventies Manhattan or the industrial zones around Kent, UK.