'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery

22 February - 11 May '13

Benjamin Faga’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States, for which he has created a new site-specific multimedia installation. Faga’s art combines research and collaboration with local communities and for Authentic Syracuse he has focused on food as an indicator of cultural diversity and identity in order to question preconceived notions of authenticity.

Through photography, video and sound, Faga’s work reflects on how a city’s identity can be constructed remotely via information culled from the internet, historical records, photographs, and online and in-person interactions with Syracuse residents and historians. The title of Faga’s work, Authentic Syracuse, alludes to destination branding. It also evokes, not without a touch of humor, every tourist’s desire to see, hear and feel the real city.

In the vault a market atmosphere prevails through the display of international spices, market sounds, and with the walls covered in mosaic style with photocopied images of multicultural neighborhood markets in London. The vault also offers a book of recipes collected from Syracuse communities, a reflection on the city’s own cultural diversity.

Based in London, UK, Faga (b. 1986, Wisconsin) studied at the University of Minnesota and received his MA in Design Interactions at the Royal College of Art in London,UK.

benfaga.com

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Diana/Arethusa Fountain' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Lebbensmittel or Syracuse In and Out' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]

'Authentic Syracuse' by Benjamin Faga at The Warehouse Gallery [photo: David Broda]