Harris Rowland Rowland Rowland Harris Rowland, WE ARE NOT PAINTERS, 2016-ongoing, four Lego constructions after paintings by Daniel Buren, Olivier Mosset, Michel Parmentier, and Niele Toroni (each 15" X 15"), four vinyl banners (40" X 24"), shelves, screws, paint, and metal push pins. Dimensions variable.

Part 5/6 of The Realist Manifesto.


WE ARE NOT PAINTERS, 2016-ongoing, draws on the short-lived Paris-based art group BUREN MOSSET PARMENTIER TORONI (formed by the painters Daniel Buren, Olivier Mosset, Michel Parmentier, and Niele Toroni), which challenged notions of originality, expression, authorship, and subjective meaning in painting through their collective "manifestations" in 1967. Stripping away pretensions (theory becomes practice), reducing their work to mechanical acts and shapes based on daily objects in the world (ie: vertical striped awning fabric, no. 50 paintbrush marks, folding and spraying painting canvas, etc...), and using the tools, sites, and concepts (specifically branding) of advertising and mass media—this could be another version of the search for the “real.”

Using the Lego company's pick-a-brick online catalog, I custom-designed and ordered readymade Legos in order to replicate each of the BMPT artists' signature painting styles. The 1:6.5 scaled sculptures are approximations in their measurements and exactitude but their designs are unmistakable in their origins. These simulations of the "real" paintings seem to transcend the utilitarian function and imaginative guidelines of Lego--one is supposed to build in 3-dimensions--architectural or mechanical designs preferred--but passive paintings (and mosaics) seem to be taboo.

My daughter Union and I then took our Lego constructions in their custom travel bag to an actual BMPT retrospective at the 205 Hudson Street Gallery at Hunter College in New York City (February 27 - April 10, 2016) where we staged our own unannounced BMPT-inspired manifestations in and around the original BMPT paintings. 

Further Harris Rowland Rowland Rowland Harris Rowland “manifestations” have happened at Bob Nickas’ May 68 Books and Records (September 8, 2017), Ortuzar Projects (April 7, 2018), and at MoMA (January 21, 2022). Of these, only May 68 Books and Records was an invitation. Each live NYC manifestation with original BMPT paintings (or artists) is unique and results in the creation of vinyl banners that can accompany the paintings or not. 

Exhibited at:

Palimpsest, 6Month Space, 251 E. Houston, New York, NY (October 18 - November 2, 2016)

Bob Nickas‘ MAY 68 Book and Records, Martos Gallery, 41 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY (September 8 - October 22, 2017)

Sources + links:

Daniel Buren (French 1938-), Olivier Mosset (Swiss 1944-), Michel Parmentier (French 1938-2000), Niele Toroni (Swiss 1937-), "18ème Salon de la Jeune Peinture” – Manifestation 1”, Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France, January 3 - 25 1967, dimensions variable, © Photo: Bernard Boyer, Paris © Daniel Buren Archives.

Daniel Buren (French 1938-), Olivier Mosset (Swiss 1944-), Michel Parmentier (French 1938-2000), Niele Toroni (Swiss 1937-), “Manifestation 3”, Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris, France, June 2, 1967, dimensions variable, © Photo: Bernard Boyer, Paris © Daniel Buren Archives.

BMPT with Daniel Buren, Olivier Mosset, Michel Parmentier, and Niele Toroni, Poster for Manifestation 3, 1967. offset lithograph, Collection of MoMA. 

Daniel Buren (French 1938-), Olivier Mosset (Swiss 1944-), Michel Parmentier (French 1938-2000), Niele Toroni (Swiss 1937-), “Manifestation 4”, in “Cinquième Biennale de Paris,” Musée d'art moderne de La Ville de Paris, France, September 30 - November 5, 1967, dimensions variable, © Photo: Bernard Boyer, Paris © Daniel Buren Archives.