Ridiculously Yours! Art, Awkwardness and Enthusiasm
Press release
12.10.2023
Press event
12.10.2023 10:30am - 12pm
Place of the press event
Neue Galerie Graz
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The feeling or attitude of enthusiastic embarrassment is undoubtedly associated with a notion of humorous light-heartedness – but just as much with a sense of earnest persistence, against all odds. It is certainly associated with irony – but also with a deeply unironic, rather enthusiastic belief in the necessity and possibility of persevering and continuing with something that has been recognized as unpleasant or embarrassing.
One of the most important attitudes or feelings underlying modern and contemporary art is an enthusiastic silliness that does not shy away from the embarrassing, the unreasonably silly. The exhibition, which spans epochs, includes works by around 100 artists from all over the world and spans an arc from earlier centuries of artistic creation to the immediate past.
In modernism since the 19th century in general and the classical avant-gardes of the early 20th century in particular, a very specific dialectic is at work: on the one hand, bold innovations, radical negation, and aesthetic dogmas – but on the other hand, a certain kind of laughter that formed the basis for the creation of this exhibition project. It is a laughter that is fun and at the same time – without wanting to scandalize only – undermines all conservatism, bigotry, morality and not least avant-garde dogmatisms. By opposing the use of culture to intimidate, to secure unearned privileges, this laughter shows how authority loses its grip, how the pompous gesture and the image of the hero are invalidated.
The topic of the exhibition is equally presented in the Neue Galerie Graz and in the HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark including spectacular artworks in each venue. While an absurd cabinet of mirrors by the Dutch artist Gabriel Lester specifically created for the exhibition project takes a central place in the Neue Galerie Graz, the large main room of the HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark transforms into the stage for a monumental installation by the US artist Jim Shaw. In addition to the actual topic, this exhibition offers an overview of important positions in international art history and contemporary art.
Ridiculously Yours! flirts with the humor of disaster, bad taste, the camp approach, B-movie culture, science fiction, horror, etc., as well as immaturity, idiocy, intuition and, of course, passion – not to mention enthusiasm.
Further information
An exhibition project initiated and conceived by Jörg Heiser and Cristina Ricupero
Press release
Ridiculously Yours!?
Images
Sandro und Helga Droschl (HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark), Peter Peer (Neue Galerie Graz), Josef Schrammel (kaufm. Dir. UMJ), v.l., vor "Welcome to the Shitshow", 2019 von Jeremy Deller,
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Helga Droschl, Peter Peer, Jörg Heiser, Cristina Ricupero, Sandro Droschl, v.l., in der HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark,
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Das Kurator*innenteam der Ausstellung Jörg Heiser und Cristina Ricupero,
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"Paar mit schielenden Augen (Cross-eyed Couple), 2012 von Hans-Peter Feldmann, Ausstellung "Ernsthaft?!", Neue Galerie Graz,
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Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Luc de Blanc: "Nora Miralda" und "Tippi Miralda", 2019 (links) © Bildrecht, Wien 2023, und "The Pink Tower", 2019 von Shana Moulton, "Curtain Diamonds", 2011 von Ulla von Brandenburg (rechts), Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Filmposter: "L'Etrange Créature du lac noir", 1954 © Bildrecht, Wien 2023, "Ed Wood - les films!", "Pink Flamingo", 1972, Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Cosima von Bonn: "WHAT IF IT BARKS 5", 2018 (links), Pierre la Police (links), Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Gabriel Lester: "Pluralistic Ignorance" aka "Presence in the Form of Absence" aka "The Perception Paradox", 2022, Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Andreas Schulze: "Untitled", 2012, Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Jos de Gruyter und Harald Thys von der Serie "Caput (Capita)" in der Ausstellung „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Jeffrey Vallance: "Blinky The Friendly Hen,1979-2016, Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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"Der Gauker", 1926 von Josef Dobner; Ausstellung „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Kiluanju Kia Henda: "In the Days of a Dark Safari, The Last Journey of the Dictator Mussunda N'zombo Before the Great Extinction", Act I-V, 2017, Ausstellungsansicht „Ernsthaft?!“, Neue Galerie Graz,
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Ausstellungsansichten René Magritte und Giorgio de Chirico,
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Jim Shaw: "Labyrinth: I Dreamt I was Taller than Jonathan Borofsky", 2009, Isa Genzken: "Family on the Beach", 2015 © Bildrecht, Wien 2023, Jos de Gryter & Harald Thys: "Klottemans", 2020, Ausstellung „Ernsthaft?!“, HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark,
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