Group show
WER NICHT AUF SEINE WEISE DENKT, DENKT ÜBERHAUPT NICHT.
May 26, 2007 – July 7, 2007
CHRISTA BRUNNER
WIDMER+THEODORIDIS contemporary is delighted to present the group show ‘A man who does not think for himself does not think at all’. On display will be a selection of works exploring photography, video, drawing and painting by resident and guest artists.
Ten artists move free and independently in catchy aesthetics that are commonly described as gay. An allocation of what looks gay is gay becomes furthermore ambiguous since only some of the artists are actually homosexual. Physical, sensual or political statements and opinions are being demonstrated without reservation in forms that oscillate between decided and subtle.
Oscar Wilde, who has been used for the title of the exhibition, was well known for his gestures. Numerous times he managed to disorient and sometimes to seduce his public. Just as well provocative and skilful these ten artists present their positions and lead the spectator into ‘wild’ circles of attraction. If and how much the spectator opens up to such aesthetics and contents depends on the actual political and cultural changes of society. The last years have gradually incorporated homosexual themes into mainstream’s awareness. The openness of society marks such a development but also the changing self-perception of the homo- or hetero-erotic appointed artist.
The exhibition deliberately excludes voyeuristic positions, and yet there is eroticism. Not so much coming from the nakedness of the bodies but rather from the constellation of the figures and the artists. What the visitor sees are intimate images of eroticism (Eder, Michels, Santin, Schumow, Thiel, Widmer), socio-political statements (Saenz, Wassermann) and playful gender-hints (Brunner, Saxer).
Christa Brunner, Wil and Zurich, catches a ménage à trois, Othmar Eder, Stettfurt, unusually displays fetish insights and Peter Michels, Zurich, presents sensual body fragments in brilliant colours. Manuelita Saenz, Zurich, misleads playfully the spectator in the videobooth ‘the egg’ and Antonio Santin, Berlin, first time in Switzerland, portraits the secret passion of a man. At Philippe Saxer, Bern, we get to see two in a intimate approach whereas Aleksandr Schumow, Zurich, goes close with his melancholic and seductive camera. New but uncommon works in a not very popular technique presents Stefan Thiel from Berlin. His scissors take a look on men in lustful positions. The two tender women on the invitation card is taken from ‘coming and going’ by Franz Wassermann, Innsbruck and Werner Widmer, Zurich catches a glimpse of lust itself.
Ten artists move free and independently in catchy aesthetics that are commonly described as gay. An allocation of what looks gay is gay becomes furthermore ambiguous since only some of the artists are actually homosexual. Physical, sensual or political statements and opinions are being demonstrated without reservation in forms that oscillate between decided and subtle.
Oscar Wilde, who has been used for the title of the exhibition, was well known for his gestures. Numerous times he managed to disorient and sometimes to seduce his public. Just as well provocative and skilful these ten artists present their positions and lead the spectator into ‘wild’ circles of attraction. If and how much the spectator opens up to such aesthetics and contents depends on the actual political and cultural changes of society. The last years have gradually incorporated homosexual themes into mainstream’s awareness. The openness of society marks such a development but also the changing self-perception of the homo- or hetero-erotic appointed artist.
The exhibition deliberately excludes voyeuristic positions, and yet there is eroticism. Not so much coming from the nakedness of the bodies but rather from the constellation of the figures and the artists. What the visitor sees are intimate images of eroticism (Eder, Michels, Santin, Schumow, Thiel, Widmer), socio-political statements (Saenz, Wassermann) and playful gender-hints (Brunner, Saxer).
Christa Brunner, Wil and Zurich, catches a ménage à trois, Othmar Eder, Stettfurt, unusually displays fetish insights and Peter Michels, Zurich, presents sensual body fragments in brilliant colours. Manuelita Saenz, Zurich, misleads playfully the spectator in the videobooth ‘the egg’ and Antonio Santin, Berlin, first time in Switzerland, portraits the secret passion of a man. At Philippe Saxer, Bern, we get to see two in a intimate approach whereas Aleksandr Schumow, Zurich, goes close with his melancholic and seductive camera. New but uncommon works in a not very popular technique presents Stefan Thiel from Berlin. His scissors take a look on men in lustful positions. The two tender women on the invitation card is taken from ‘coming and going’ by Franz Wassermann, Innsbruck and Werner Widmer, Zurich catches a glimpse of lust itself.
