John Bock
Im Modder der Summenmutation
3 October 2013–12 January 2014
Bundeskunsthalle
Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 4
53113 Bonn
Germany
Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday 10am–9pm,
Thursday–Sunday 10am–7pm
T +49 228 9171 200
F +49 228 9171 209
info [at] bundeskunsthalle.de
www.bundeskunsthalle.de
Facebook
The large survey Im Modder der Summenmutation presents a fusion of the key strands of John Bock’s artistic practice. Several of the artist’s performances—which he refers to as ‘lectures’—are restaged in modified form as ‘RE-lectures.’ The exhibition forms the set for a new film, which will be produced live at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany and will be screened there later in the exhibition. Existing installations from a wide range of different contexts converge with new works and mutate into a new dynamic structure. In line with the artist’s irreverent style, Im Modder der Summenmutation is a survey exhibition with a retrospective character and strong focus on the artist’s current production that undermines the very idea of a well-ordered survey. John Bock’s answer to the question ‘What does exhibiting mean today?’ is an unreservedly daring gesture—a plea for the continuous expansion of the concept of art.
An exhibition that keeps on changing keeps on raising questions. Members of our art education team are on permanent call in the exhibition to discuss John Bock’s art and any of the many issues the exhibition may give rise to.
Im Modder der Summenmutation by John Bock is the first exhibition of the new director Rein Wolfs. He comments: “John Bock’s exhibition stands for a repositioning of the Bundeskunsthalle. With this first large-scale survey, we appreciate the oeuvre of a mid-career artist, who has the process-oriented, the actionist and the quest for the total work of art in his focus. The Bundeskunsthalle recognizes the specific impact of this headstrong and transforming artist and takes the opportunity to review its own ability for transformation.”
The exhibition is accompanied by the publication Meechfieber, the first comprehensive documentation of all of the artist’s lectures and films to date.
Curator: Rein Wolfs
Exhibition Manager: Johanna Adam
Press contact: Sven Bergmann
T +49 228 9171 204 / presse [at] bundeskunsthalle.de
www.bundeskunsthalle.de
