This publication is produced in conjunction with solo exhibitions by Mike Nelson presented at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, from 13 September to 3 November 2013, and The Power Plant from 1 February to 19 May 2014.

Nelson is best known for his architectural installations, which unfold as narrative structures, where the viewer moves through seemingly abandoned rooms devoid of figures. Drawing on archetypes such as the fur trapper, the pioneering explorer, the Beatnik, and the biker, Mike Nelson offers a new reading of the archetype of the lone traveller, focusing on the significance of these characters in the context of masculinity and spirituality. This publication explores Nelson's frequent return to the archetype of lone wanderer, who underlays much of his work, whether as an implied trace or as sculptural assemblages. While drawing from a wide range of Nelson's work, this publication spotlights The Amnesiacs, a serial work begun by the artist in 1996 and revisited in the exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, and The Power Plant.

The publication features texts by Dick Hebdige, Jaki Irvine, Julia Paoli, and Jenifer Papararo.

Product Information

Publisher: Black Dog Publishing

Year: 2015

Pages: 176

Illustrations: Colour