Finesse

Finesse, in its most general sense, denotes skill and discretion when handling a situation--even the subtle manipulation of circumstances to one's advantage. This may involve clever maneuvering, cunning, or artifice. Finesse can also designate delicate workmanship or refined comportment. It is synonymous to dexterity, trickery, and sleight. This publication brings together recent and newly-commissioned work by seven artists whose work deliberately finesses the relationship between the artist and the structures she occupies--whether material, social, or political. This tactic rests on the premise that those attuned to the conditions that reproduce a system are best positioned to transform them from within.