June 20–July 5, 2014
Opening: Friday June 20, 17–19h
MaHKU, Utrecht Graduate School of Visual Art and Design
Academiegalerie
Minrebroederstraat 16
3512 GT Utrecht
The Netherlands
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 13–18
Curator:
The title of the exhibition, taken from the concluding line of Jørgen Leth’s short film The Perfect Human (1967), refers to a space of temporary suspension of understanding and self-reflection. This characterizes the moment in which the participants of the year-long Fine Arts Master program find themselves in, within the context of their graduation presentation. During their education, their artistic positions are formed and reconfigured in synchronization with or in juxtaposition to the various notions and methodologies prevalent in artistic research and aesthetic production.
The exhibition is an accumulation of the participants’ individual endeavors in the push and pull between personal reflection and the socio-political stances they might feel compelled to adapt to as young artists, while addressing the need to embody the knowledge they have acquired in an intensive research period. Echoing Leth’s investigation in the film, where his objective observations do not pertain to offer straightforward answers to his quest in defining “The Perfect Human,” this particular exercise opens up attempts as well as alludes to the impossible task of reaching a definitive conclusion.
Perhaps not unlike Leth’s concerted efforts to comprehend the world, the students’ works could be seen as their momentary undertakings in establishing and finding their emergent voices during the program. Rather than functioning as definitive positions, the myriad and contemplative works on display could be viewed as openings through which the artists begin to delve into and decipher their respective practices, if only in hindsight.
Opening presentations on Friday June 20, 14–16.30h
Location: Schiller Theater, Minrebroederstraat 11, 3512 GS Utrecht (across from Academiegalerie)
Reservations: [email protected]
Organized alongside the opening of Today, too, I experienced something I hope to understand in a few days., artists Ane Hjort Guttu and James Beckett are invited to present their practices, to open up a discussion on other possible ways of playfully engaging with research-based methodology.
Activated Studio
Presentation dates: June 26–29
Location: HKU, Ina Boudier-Bakkerlaan 50, Utrecht
Visiting hours: Thursday 16–21h, Friday 10–21h, Saturday and Sunday 11–17h
MaHKU MA Fine Art opens its studio/seminar room/research lab/community chamber/film set/music hall/snack corner/etc.
Activated Studio, as counterpart of the exhibition at Academiegalerie, might include casual talks, presentations, sketches, proof prints, unfinished videos, models, protest karaoke, séances and performances with objects in the show.
More information: www.mahku.nl.
