N° 5 2006
October/November
‘Reality is always much stronger, much harder than art,’ says Erik van Lieshout. In his work, be it videos or paintings or drawings, he is in search of the right tension between art and real life, and he does not shy away from throwing himself into the fray. This extreme attitude, where nothing is sacred, is crucial for him to achieve what he wants: political work, without being political.
Exposed and Worse
22/10/06 Domeniek Ruyters
What is ‘bare life’ and why is it such a popular subject in art? A meander along some examples produces a broad range of meanings, from a quest to find the essence of existence and social criticism, to a socio-psychological picture of fear.
History is evident in London-based Italian artist Enrico David's work, which recently was on view in the Van Abbemuseum. Yet he himself is not concerned with the past. He approaches his work without prejudice, and with a great love for detail. Alexis Vaillant travelled to London to find out what motivates him.
Retrospective Barbara Visser
22/10/06 Moritz Küng
Her first major museum exhibition will be opening in November, she will be showing several works, both new and old, at the Biennial in São Paulo, and this year will see the publication of an extensive monograph. For Barbara Visser, it is harvest time. Curator Moritz Küng asked her about the choices she has made in order to present her work – in both the book and the exhibition – in the retrospective model.
What is Bare Life?
Two commentaries
by Jennifer Allen and Paul Groot
22/10/06 Jennifer Allen, Paul Groot
The next Documenta has three leitmotifs. The second is devoted to the question, ‘What is bare life?’ METROPOLIS M asked two critics to give their initial reactions.
Opening
