McCoys Comics

 

Kevin and Jennifer McCoy have been artistic collaborators since 1990.  They have manifested a remarkable lineage of works that include video and film, as well as networks and performance installations. In addition, they work with sculptures that are shaped of disconnected miniatures and put into kinetic tableaus, which feature lightning 

effects and the moving of video and sculptural elements. All together this creates a type of cinematic narrative, which simultaneously moves along within the context of a story and preserves that moment in time.

 

Their work can bee seen as an intersection of narratives, networks and databases, which are formed by a very strong expertise with film, TV and popular culture. These works of non- linear narratives are embodied as a collection that presents a regular piece that is remodeled into a portable sculptural viewing station.

 

The works appear to have a very close relation to the artists in which they connect their own dreams and experiences into the scenes and give them an existing appearance. Besides the rich personal content of the work, the viewer also recognizes a strong political influence in the displayed images.

 

Kevin and Jennifer live and work in Brooklyn, NY. Their recent exhibitions took place in London, Spain, Germany and Geneva.

 

The following is a fictional comic showing Jennifer and Kevin McCoy on their “third” date coherent to their former first and second dates displayed in their works. This scene is “remodeled” from a real where the Cadre Students took the McCoys to lay Mini Golf.

 

 

 

  • Arriving at SJ Airport. Then driving to the Mini Golf facility.

         K: Coming to SJ got a much more…, very different kind of reality than in Brooklyn.

         J: Yeah, the East coast has it’s own version 

 

 

  • Kevin and Jennifer arrive at the Mini Golf. Eagerly they borrow the
    clubs and go to the first hole.

         K: Sculpturally you have one kind of experience in front of you, very much

             one kind of reality and through the mechanism there is a whole other world
             constructed.

         J: We always create our own muse!

         J: yeah, think about your life as a movie. The adventures you have, travels etc..

         K: Travels!! –trying to get the ball in the hole. I really should be focused. 

 

 

  • Overwhelmed by all the little castles, bridges and streams, lights and colorful
    objects Kevin stretches out on the grass carpet in the middle of the hole, looks
    up and says:

         K: What a mix of reality and fantasy! A double fantasy V!

         J: It just feels like different levels of time within the same experience.

             (Jennifer shaking her head about the sudden stretch out (thinking): there I am with the

              guy with the sage.)

 

 

 

  • Kevin gets back up and they proceed to the next hole where a
    huge castle and a surrounding world covers up the path of the
    hole.

         K: This is more a monument of fantasy or a moment of reality as a child.

         J: And you can follow it up to the peak and then we end up in this reality together.

         K: Come on baby, cue it up!

            (Jennifer steps on the tee-box mat and makes a few bigger practice swings.)

         J: Build it up and release it! See, extend the emotion. It has its own kind of sensibility.

            (Kevin watches her, quite impressed. He claps his hand and rises them up in the air.)

        K: Pure energy!

            (thinking): So there is Jenn as the Mini Golf Instructor and me the “prospective”
            scientist.
 

 

 

  • As Jennifer hits the ball too hard it flies over the fence into a dog’s
    yard. The dog is upset and comes running after Jennifer. Jennifer
    starts running.

        J: Ahhh- you know, the chase never ends! It only has variations!

        K: So, would you call this an “Your adventure starts here”? (shaking his head)

  • At the next hole there is a big swinging bar above the hole, making
    it difficult to take the time to concentrate. Kevin is checking it out first.

        K: What is that? Cool.

        J: You need to respond to a piece called the “dread knot” in real time. A sculptural moving
            base.

        K: So, then this is the kind of reality that you are seeing as a viewer. You walk in and see
            this upright vertical panel. It is just floating in the middle of the pedestal but the space
            makes a lot of sense, a very tedious fracture to the layout.

        J: It gives a really energetic feel, don’t you think?

        K: I am so into it, that is pretty cool!

        J: Yeah, I like this piece- it is functional.

 

            (After trying several times to get the ball in the hole.)

        K: This makes no sense.  And by the way, why are you saying that?

        J: Because we are interested in the “special” effects that can happen in real space.

  • Getting to the second last hole. Kevin does not seem to be too
    happy with his result. Jennifer already counts the strokes on the
    scorecard. Kevin takes a rest.

        J: It is interesting to see where your work is at and how to respond.

        K: I know, but there is still this mechanical core at the heart of the game. That really

            affects me.

 

 

 

  • Jennifer goes over and gives him a hug. She teases.

         J: A hallway for little frustrations?? Come on Kevin, this is a world of itself. It is not

            created by us, how do you want to win this game?

        K: In the constant world- as collaborators! You and me.

 

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