Ryan Gander. Grunts, hoots, whimpers, barks and screams

Ryan Gander is considered one of the most singular and formally engaged artists of our time. He has established an international reputation through artworks that materialise in many different forms – from sculpture to film, writing, graphic design, installation, performance and more besides. Through associative thought processes that connect the everyday and the esoteric, the overlooked and the commonplace, Gander’s work involves a questioning of language and knowledge, as well as a reinvention of both the modes of appearance and the creation of an artwork. His work can be reminiscent of a puzzle, or a network with multiple connections and the fragments of an embedded story. It is ultimately a huge set of hidden clues to be deciphered, encouraging viewers to make their own associations and invent their own narrative in order to unravel the complexities staged by the artist.

The exhibition “Grunts, hoots, whimpers, barks and screams” examines the foundations of Gander’s unique vocabulary as an artist. Bringing together for the first time a large number of works, it traces the development of the distinctive language for which the artist is known. The selection is based on some of the most poetic and attractive works around ideas of value, authorship, mortality, language and coincidence, amongst others. The show devises thematic strands to include iconic installations, as well as recent and new works, specially produced for this exhibition at Helga de Alvear Museum, highlighting his unique practice from the last couple of decades.

As part of the exhibition, on December 6 and 7 of 2024 the artist carries out the public art project entitled The Find, placing thousands of special coins in different locations across the city of Cáceres and inviting us to participate in a particular “treasure hunt”.