30 August – 15 November 2014

In A Town Not This One, Jack Pierson's works are mainly Word Pieces – large-scale wall sculptures comprising letters of different sizes and materials which, with their clear outlines, were diametrically opposed to the hazy, soft-focus effect of Pierson's photographs. The sculptures were composed of found objects which the artist has collected over many years. They were considered to be the American variant of concrete poetry, where language itself is represented in the shape of the work.

Whereas during the 1990s Pierson worked primarily with slogans that were often a somewhat melancholy reminder of a long outdated, glamorous Hollywood age, in this exhibition he was more interested in philosophical topics. The word compositions, skilful combinations of word and material, used classical references, literature and quotations from the Bible, evoking subtle associations for the viewer. His Word Pieces were concise, sometimes laconic, but the echo of his word creations sent our thoughts roaming far and wide. Thus the poetry in Pierson's work assumed a spiritual dimension. He attempted to explore the reverse side of the concept "American Dream", to express what he called "the inherent tragedy of the pursuit of glamour". In these works, Pierson often played with subconscious, collective knowledge of proverbs, fairy-tales, song texts and literary clichés.