Eddie Clemens, Cognitive Reorientation, 2023
Sculpture on the Gulf, 2023

Cognitive Reorientation (2024), Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial

Superpartner is honoured to announce the installation of Cognitive Reorientation, a major sculptural work by Eddie Clemens at the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, opening November 2024.

This significant international exhibition will capture the attention of the global art world and serves as the premier launch event for a major new arts and cultural investment program in Abu Dhabi. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to showcase New Zealand art and creativity in a new global region.

Eddie Clemens’ work investigates how narratives are conveyed through ready-made objects, often drawing from film and television. Cognitive Reorientation (2024) reimagines a key scene from the Danish TV drama Forbrydelsen (The Killing, 2007–2012), where a car is pulled out of a river. Installed in the inlet near Abu Dhabi's Sheraton Hotel, the piece deconstructs the mechanics behind television production, revealing the hidden labour behind the spectacle of mass media. By weaving together the real and imaginary, Clemens raises questions about artistic fabrication, the uncertain status of evidence, and the impact of advanced digital manipulation. This installation invites reflection on how narratives shape reality and perception within Abu Dhabi’s evolving urban landscape.

The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial commission will see the third work in Clemens’ iconic series, following two highly popular prior iterations at SCAPE Christchurch 2023, and Sculpture on the Gulf, Waiheke Island, Waitemata Harbour, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland 2024.

Eddie Clemens will also be exhibiting with Superpartner mid-2025.

Eddie Clemens, is known for his interdisciplinary practice in film, photography, performance, and sculpture. Clemens explores unconventional narratives, often inspired by film and TV. He graduated with a BFA from Ilam School of Fine Arts, Canterbury University, and an MFA (Hons) in sculpture from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland. Notable commissions and residencies include Public Art Abu Dhabi 2024, the Auckland City Public Library Light Commission and the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, University of Otago. He is currently completing a major public artwork for the Wellington Sculpture Trust. His works are held in collections like the Chartwell Trust Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū, and Société BIC Paris.

Eddie Clemens (Born Rotorua) Lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Artist’s website: eddieclemens.com