24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance

Press release

30.04.2024

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Duration

01.05.2024 - 19.01.2025

Opening

30.04.2024 7pm

Press event

30.04.2024 11:30am - 12:30pm

Place of the press event

Kunsthaus Graz, Space02

Curators

Katia Huemer

Co-curators

Martin Grabner

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Yet despite the apparent freedom from rigid structures and time cards, many employees continue to struggle for fair conditions. Invisible work such as unpaid housework or care work, frequently carried out by women, is also a social problem at present and shows the need to address inequalities and exploitation. The struggle for higher wages now faces such terms as New Work, 4-day week and work-life balance. Are these just hollow phrases or realistic demands in a time of maximum stress?

Work is not just to be considered from the economic viewpoint, however; it can and should be a source of meaning and fulfilment, too. In modern-day consumerist society, in which people are focused on material possessions, work has turned into a mere means to an end, to enable consumption; yet a society in which work is no longer the central element in life could allow people more time for personal development, cultural activities and creative expression.

In a not-too-distant future, such technologies as AI and automation will continue to change the world of work and bring with them new challenges. These will once again necessitate both social and political discourse.

The exhibition examines the often precarious aspects of artistic and cultural work, posing questions about the blurring of boundaries between letting oneself be exploited and self-realisation. One part of the exhibition space is available for new productions and performative art projects, which will allow the exhibition to grow as it runs.

Parallel to the exhibition at the Kunsthaus Graz, the History Museum, in an exhibition titled It’s All Work, draws on historic press photographs from the Foto Blaschka agency to tell of the imbalance in the world of work and the massive inequalities between the sexes, some of which still existing today. A new artistic production based on the Blaschka Photo Archive will be on show in both exhibitions.

Exhibition artists:

Maja Bajević, Julien Berthier, Louisa Clement, Manuel Correa & Marina Otero Verzier, Jeremy Deller, Antje Ehmann & Harun Farocki & Eva Stotz, Aldo Giannotti, Liam Gillick, Lisa Großkopf, Andreas Gursky, Michael Hieslmair & Michael Zinganel & Theresa Hattinger, Tehching Hsieh, Johanna Kandl, Peter Kogler, KURS (Miloš Miletić, Mirjana Radovanović), Luiza Margan, Pia Mayrwöger, Sam Meech, Michail Michailov, Elisa Giardina Papa, Nika Radić, Martha Rosler, Sebastian Schmieg & Silvio Lorusso, Christoph Schwarz, Selma Selman, Santiago Sierra, Lia Sudermann & Simon Nagy, Oliver Walker

The exhibition "24/7" is a cooperation with "Alles Arbeit" at the Museum für Geschichte.

Press release (eng)

24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance

Sporočilo za medije (slo)

24/7. Delo med ustvarjanjem pomena in neravnovesjem

Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance" with "Pia Mayrwöger, Mischmaschine, 2021/2024"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", in the foreground the work of Selma Selman

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance",with works of Selma Selman Werke von Johanna Kandl: left "Prospector, 2021" und right: "Carry On, 2023"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance": "Julien Berthier, L’horloge d’une vie de travail 2, 2008"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", in the foreground: "Luiza Margan, Cache, 2023/24"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", "Tehching Hsieh: One Year Performance, 1980-1981"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", in the foreground: "Louisa Clement, Representative, 2021", in the background: "Andreas Gursky, Amazon, 2016"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", with a work by Theresa Hattinger & Michael Hieslmair & Michael Zinganel

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance" with "Pia Mayrwöger, Mischmaschine, 2021/2024"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", with "Harun Farocki, Workers Leaving the Factory, 1995"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", with works by Maja Bajević

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", with "Lisa Großkopf, She Works Hard for the Money, 2023"

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Exhibition view "24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance", "Tehching Hsieh: One Year Performance, 1980-1981"

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Jeremy Deller "Hello, today you have day off" at the foyer of the Kunsthaus criticizes zero hour contracts

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Theresa Hattinger & Michael Hieslmair & Michael Zinganel “Windhosen” in front of the Kunsthaus Graz

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Theresa Hattinger & Michael Hieslmair & Michael Zinganel - their “Windhosen” can be seen in front of the Kunsthaus Graz

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Exhibition view “24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance” with Peter Kogler's work at the Travelator in the Kunsthaus

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Exhibition view “24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance”: Antje Ehmann, Harun Farocki "Labour in a Single Shot" 2011

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Exhibition view “24/7. Work between meaning and imbalance”: KURS (Mirjana Radovanović, Miloš Miletić): "We have always received something in exchange that we lived"

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