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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5338
18.10.2012
Hanínga Thiel
WWW
3 proposals for the Istanbul Biennale: Proposal 1: LOST DIRECTION Some theory first: Do you know the rules and do you know the guidelines? The world has become chaotic. Confusing, mostly because opposing trends such as globalization (the increas ...

3 proposals for the Istanbul Biennale:

Proposal 1: LOST DIRECTION

Some theory first:

Do you know the rules and do you know the guidelines? The world has become chaotic. Confusing, mostly because opposing trends such as globalization (the increase in cross-border action) and fragmentation (the breaking out of entire regions of the world community) are not neutralizing, but overlapping. “Crisis” anywhere, nothing is reliably anymore.

Only by building life in conformity were previously stable groups of people creating society. One can therefore assume that mankind has a disposition to be in agreement with rules. This ensured its survival. Structure and order means nothing other than that we try to create recognizable references. There is a need for protective cover, be it physical, emotional, or intellectual.

Today this is a “saving straw” for the confused mankind, to mentally staying alive.

Social order does not come from nature. It is based on contracts. (Jean-Jacques Rousseau)

(I may add: by contracts that are reliable).

The installation

An evocative, on-grade linear trail divides two parts of the same chaotic mass. This mass serves as an aesthetic metaphor for “chaos” –fragments of old mannequins, different sizes and shapes (see the attached photo), arranged in a “chaotic” array.

The trail symbolizes “order” within the visually chaotic masses. Setting it off from the surroundings, slightly elevated flat metal boxes are covered with symbols of order. These are shadowed by bundles of money statements of accounts, street signs, passports; by telephone books, listings, and railroad guides, by tickets and stamps (etc.).

Installation, mixed media, dimensions variable

Proposal 2: GENERAL REMINDER

Not much theory needed:

Nobody knows exactly how many people in the world die to the consequences of malnutrition. But there is an estimate of about 24,000 people worldwide. Chronic hunger leads to an early death and is inextricably linked with the general economic under-development of many countries. Hunger is often the consequence of war, displacement and natural disasters. They make the people's access to their fields and stores impossible or destroy them completely. Reinforced by the general poverty and inadequate nutrition situation in a country may lead in such situations to acute hunger crises. If the crisis is not timely and comprehensively challenged, people starve.

To visually express the physical needs of staying alive the installation takes the spectator to one simple thing: our most important and at the same time seemingly most profane eatables: Bread and Butter. Bread is the base, and butter a symbol for the obscene wealth of western states.

Like a votive effigy, a loaf of bread is laying on a flat sheet. On the surface is a small monitor visible that is built into the bread, showing a video of several chewing mouths. Beside the bread lays ½ pound “Deutsche Markenbutter”, packed in gold foil.

The arrangement is posted beneath eye-level, on a pedestal, to make the video visible from above, and covered by a safety glass hood.

Assemblage, bread/video/butter, 60 x 60 cm, height approximately 140 cm

Proposal 3: REMEMBER TOMORROW

Some theory first:

Dreams –you can also use the German word visionen- are not merely means of escape, but also ways - virtual routes - to a fairer, enduring world. These dreams want to change, by sending us into the realms of utopias. Charles Baudelaire wrote about the "marriage of the dream with reason, sealed in a utopia." Dreams/Visions are our access to a wonderful world of change (and this may be the first goal to achieve, to keep mankind alive). The conscious dream has a similar function as the visualization. One can include the goals and desires of certain issues and focus on the achievement of this imagination. A vision is nothing that we can achieve purely analytically. Visionary thinking requires the contrary process, namely the production of images. The artwork is the logical extension. The title quotes the fact that we have lost the once existing connection to nature.

The installation

On the ceiling of the room a ball lamp with small cut out motifs, like leaves, is permanently turning around, the light in motion evoking a dreamlike, through strokes of genius enlightened environment.

On the floor several flat light-boxes are spread, on these boxes single sentences in black capitals: universal environmental concerns, like

“WE NEED WATER”, “THE PLANET NEEDS HELP”, “BE WISE ABOUT RECOURCES”, “ELEMENTS TO ENERGY”, etc.

Installation, light and mixed media, dimensions variable (light-boxes 50 x 70 cm).

3 proposals for the Istanbul Biennale: Proposal 1: LOST DIRECTION Some theory first: Do you know the rules and do you know the guidelines? The world has become chaotic. Confusing, mostly because opposing trends such as globalization (the increas ...

3 proposals for the Istanbul Biennale:

Proposal 1: LOST DIRECTION

Some theory first:

Do you know the rules and do you know the guidelines? The world has become chaotic. Confusing, mostly because opposing trends such as globalization (the increase in cross-border action) and fragmentation (the breaking out of entire regions of the world community) are not neutralizing, but overlapping. “Crisis” anywhere, nothing is reliably anymore.

Only by building life in conformity were previously stable groups of people creating society. One can therefore assume that mankind has a disposition to be in agreement with rules. This ensured its survival. Structure and order means nothing other than that we try to create recognizable references. There is a need for protective cover, be it physical, emotional, or intellectual.

Today this is a “saving straw” for the confused mankind, to mentally staying alive.

Social order does not come from nature. It is based on contracts. (Jean-Jacques Rousseau)

(I may add: by contracts that are reliable).

The installation

An evocative, on-grade linear trail divides two parts of the same chaotic mass. This mass serves as an aesthetic metaphor for “chaos” –fragments of old mannequins, different sizes and shapes (see the attached photo), arranged in a “chaotic” array.

The trail symbolizes “order” within the visually chaotic masses. Setting it off from the surroundings, slightly elevated flat metal boxes are covered with symbols of order. These are shadowed by bundles of money statements of accounts, street signs, passports; by telephone books, listings, and railroad guides, by tickets and stamps (etc.).

Installation, mixed media, dimensions variable

Proposal 2: GENERAL REMINDER

Not much theory needed:

Nobody knows exactly how many people in the world die to the consequences of malnutrition. But there is an estimate of about 24,000 people worldwide. Chronic hunger leads to an early death and is inextricably linked with the general economic under-development of many countries. Hunger is often the consequence of war, displacement and natural disasters. They make the people's access to their fields and stores impossible or destroy them completely. Reinforced by the general poverty and inadequate nutrition situation in a country may lead in such situations to acute hunger crises. If the crisis is not timely and comprehensively challenged, people starve.

To visually express the physical needs of staying alive the installation takes the spectator to one simple thing: our most important and at the same time seemingly most profane eatables: Bread and Butter. Bread is the base, and butter a symbol for the obscene wealth of western states.

Like a votive effigy, a loaf of bread is laying on a flat sheet. On the surface is a small monitor visible that is built into the bread, showing a video of several chewing mouths. Beside the bread lays ½ pound “Deutsche Markenbutter”, packed in gold foil.

The arrangement is posted beneath eye-level, on a pedestal, to make the video visible from above, and covered by a safety glass hood.

Assemblage, bread/video/butter, 60 x 60 cm, height approximately 140 cm

Proposal 3: REMEMBER TOMORROW

Some theory first:

Dreams –you can also use the German word visionen- are not merely means of escape, but also ways - virtual routes - to a fairer, enduring world. These dreams want to change, by sending us into the realms of utopias. Charles Baudelaire wrote about the "marriage of the dream with reason, sealed in a utopia." Dreams/Visions are our access to a wonderful world of change (and this may be the first goal to achieve, to keep mankind alive). The conscious dream has a similar function as the visualization. One can include the goals and desires of certain issues and focus on the achievement of this imagination. A vision is nothing that we can achieve purely analytically. Visionary thinking requires the contrary process, namely the production of images. The artwork is the logical extension. The title quotes the fact that we have lost the once existing connection to nature.

The installation

On the ceiling of the room a ball lamp with small cut out motifs, like leaves, is permanently turning around, the light in motion evoking a dreamlike, through strokes of genius enlightened environment.

On the floor several flat light-boxes are spread, on these boxes single sentences in black capitals: universal environmental concerns, like

“WE NEED WATER”, “THE PLANET NEEDS HELP”, “BE WISE ABOUT RECOURCES”, “ELEMENTS TO ENERGY”, etc.

Installation, light and mixed media, dimensions variable (light-boxes 50 x 70 cm).