Meredith Monk. Calling and COURTPLAY

Meredith Monk. Calling, first monograph of the multifaceted artist Meredith Monk
Following Meredith Monk’s dual European retrospectives last Fall, Hartwig Art Foundation and Haus der Kunst partnered to create her first monograph.

Initiated by Beatrix Ruf, director of Hartwig Art Foundation, Monk’s retrospectives at Oude Kerk, Amsterdam (October 21, 2023–March 17, 2024) and Haus der Kunst, Munich (November 10, 2023–March 3, 2024) showcased the groundbreaking practice of the legendary artist known for exploring the boundaries and potential of the human voice. For the show at Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, curated by Ruf, Monk’s works came in dialogue with the 700-year-old church, transforming the space into a living, singing body and immersing the audience directly into her rich oeuvre.  

“After bringing the world premiere of Indra’s Net and Meredith Monk’s first retrospectives to Europe, I am proud that Hartwig Art Foundation has been instrumental in publishing this long-overdue monograph, creating yet another opportunity to celebrate Meredith Monk’s pioneering and remarkable career.” —Beatrix Ruf 

This monograph encompasses Monk’s career in all its facets: from voice artist to composer, choreographer to filmmaker, and more. The publication includes previously unseen archival material, musical notations, drawings, and photographs, along with an in-depth conversation with the artist. Essays by Hilton Als, Joan Jonas and Bruce Nauman, among others, emphasize Monk’s lasting legacy and significance today.

Meredith Monk. Calling will be launched on Wednesday, November 13 in Amsterdam (Oude Kerk Amsterdam) and in NYC (The Kitchen at Westbeth).

Edited by: Anna Schneider with Beatrix Ruf and Peter Sciscioli. 

Contributors: John Luther Adams, Hilton Als, Carla Blank, Theo Bleckmann, Tom Bogdan, Manfred Eicher, Siri Engberg, Ellen Fisher, Andrea Goodman, Ann Hamilton, Jim Hodges, Pico Iyer, Joan Jonas, Alex Katz, John R. Killacky, Ralph Lemon, Andrea Lissoni, Bonnie Marranca, Bobby McFerrin, Rick Moody, Timothy Morton, Bruce Nauman, Shirin Neshat, Frank J. Oteri, Ishmael Reed, Teresa Retzer, Alex Ross, Beatrix Ruf, Anna Schneider, Peter Sciscioli, Yuval Sharon, Adam Shatz, Allison Sniffin, Louise Steinman, Jean-Louis Tallon, Anne Waldman, John Zorn.

Designed by Dan Solbach. Published by Hartwig Art Foundation and Haus der Kunst at Hatje Cantz Verlag, click here to order. 

COURTPLAY
The publication COURTPLAY recollects the eponymous 24-hour exhibition and event held in January 2024 in Amsterdam, a programme that marked the first large-scale initiative by Hartwig Art Foundation at the former courthouse, the site of the foundation’s forthcoming contemporary art museum.

Curated by Mohamed Almusibli and Ivan Cheng for Hartwig Art Foundation, the brutalist courthouse was turned into a stage and transformed into the set of a three-act theatrical play ALIAS (Turbo Moniker) —the deconstruction of a TV legal drama. COURTPLAY’s format displayed tensions between its contributors and the established notions of law and tradition. Marathons of artist films and site-specific installations were exhibited throughout the atrium and former courtrooms, questioning the difference between audience, consumer, and witness. 

Amsterdam-based graphic designer Sabo Day has given the book a novel-like quality while retaining the office-like quirkiness of the original event’s signage. In addition to contributions by authors such as Sophia Al-Maria, Claire Fontaine and Ed Atkins, which constituted the performance script, the publication features live drawings created throughout the programme by courtroom sketch artist Aloys Oosterwijk. It also includes comprehensive documentation of the exhibited works, an introduction by the curators and an epilogue by Beatrix Ruf. 

Join us for the launch of COURTPLAY at the Kunsthalle Basel on October 23.

Edited by Ivan Cheng and Mohamed Almusibli. Epilogue by Beatrix Ruf.

Contributors: Sophia Al-Maria, Josefin Arnell, Ed Atkins, Felix Bernstein, Victoria Colmegna, Claire Fontaine, Robert Glück & Jocelyn Saidenberg, Annie Goodner, Calla Henkel & Max Pitegoff, Shiv Kotecha, Huw Lemmey, Nour Mobarak, Becket MWN, Ariana Reines, Tai Shani, Ryan Trecartin, Angharad Williams.

Artists exhibited: Noor Abed, Sophia Al-Maria, Özgür Kar, Brianna Leatherbury, Mire Lee, Peng Zuqiang, Jay Tan, aqui Thami, Ryan Trecartin, SoiL Thornton, Sands Murray-Wassink, Marina Xenofontos.

Performance ALIAS (Turbo Moniker) with Soraya Lutangu Bonaventure, Ivan Cheng, Mami Kang, Geo Wyex.

Sketch art: Aloys Oosterwijk.

Designed by Sabo Day. Published by Hartwig Art Foundation at JRP|Editions, click here to order.