Make sure you have always a „plan B“ in your pocket
29. May 2018
„Zero Waste“. What exactly does that mean?
9. June 2018
A very fresh breeze in a very traditional setting
In the Rhineland region, there are numerous traces of Prussian history, such as buildings, monuments or street names, and often they were named after the German emperor Wilhelm I. Thus, the museum of the same name in Krefeld, was designed and built to be both, on the one hand a monument and on the other an exhibition hall. As a typical building of historicism, it quotes Italian Renaissance, combined with Prussian attitude for representation, and the pride of Krefeld citizens who at that time had helped to finance the elaborate building with donations, and thus made it possible.
The mixture of monument and museum, palace and educational institution looks very massive, from the outside, maybe even a little defiant and „immovable“. However, with the elaborate renovation 2012 – 2016, a contemporary museum architecture has been established. You can take a walk through the history of art across centuries, from the Middle Ages to the present, and enjoy many significant works in the museum’s permanent collection. However, the immense mobility and content-related energy of this museum is particularly evident in the temporarily changing exhibition program.
Art comes into action. Is this art?Honestly!? Yes, indeed!
“Is this art or can we dump it?“ This is a well-known quote, and in the same category with “I could do this as well.“ Probably everyone has already come across the numerous postcards, stickers or those little magnets, that can be put on the refridgerator door. Especially contemporary works are quickly in this particular „pidgeon hole“ of thinking. This is not only a quite stubborn attitude, but definitely also a true guarantee that you will not learn anything new. And that would be most unfortunate. Even sad. So, how about getting out of the comfort zone of „Yes, I know. I knew this already. Nothing for me.“, and move to the much more thrilling experience of “What does that mean? Let me see and find out.“
Currently, there is a very special show at Kaiser Wilhelm Museum: the art of performance. The appeal of the ephemeral and non tangible, as opposed to the permanent material of a „piece of art“, is usually combined with artistic action in real space. And often, the performance is not „put on stage“ and presented to the audience, but is created together with the audience who becomes an active participant.
Krefeld is already well acquainted with the experimental art of location-based performance. World-class performance masters such as Joseph Beuys (who incidentally is also represented in the museum with a very important work group!), Yves Klein or Franz Erhard Walther have already worked in Krefeld. Now, the Danish artist Christian Falsnaes joins in this illustrious round with his first major museum solo exhibition.
Nothing for shy people. Christian Falsnaes goes into action
Born in Copenhagen in 1980, Christian Falsnaes is known for his provocative performances and interactions in public space. The relationship between art and recipient, inter-action, if not not to say confrontation, is at the center of his work, which he develops through the means of performance, painting, music and movement. With Christian Falsnaes, you can not “stay away”, but are immediately invited to re-act, to participate. Falsnaes becomes kind of a stage director, sometimes even close to a manipulator, whose instructions are purposeful and controlled, and their results can not be foreseen. Simply because with the viewer, who turns into a participant and thus, actor, there is another individual person who comes into play. And because this individual person usually is not alone, but mostly acts as part of a group, there is even a third rank of powerful social dynamics. This is a lesson in (groups) psychology, not as a theory from the textbook, but as a real life experience.
Feel responsible for a piece of art. Because it is created by you.
Falsnaes examines social conventions and norms, human relations and roles. The Krefeld museum solo show stages eight works in eight rooms that explore communicative processes. The work „Force“, that provides the title of the entire show, requires the viewer to slip into a black full-body suit that also covers his or her face. In the true meaning of the word, the viewer becomes face-less, and is thus deprived of his or her unmistakable identity. The viewer / actor then is to move in front of a mirror in an otherwise completely empty space, becoming him- or herself a kinetic work of art that looks at itself. Everyone is free to decide whether he follows Falnaes’ instructions or not. The entire experience is also about active consciousness: you are required to make your own decision in this very moment, whether you should get involved or not. Exactly at this very moment a new work of art has come to life. And what if the viewer does not participate? Then, there isn’t any artwork at all. Or is there?
Dare something and find out! And of course, have fun!
