Barbara Holub, Whying, soundplay, 22', inflatable cushions, PU-foil, wax crayons on terrazzo floor, 1999


Barbara Holub, born 1959 in Stuttgart, addresses anthropological issues in her work - issues decisively shape society and communication, social and personal identities. For her exhibition project at the Secession, she explores the (adult) longing for a child's innocence on the basis of various perspectives of adult and child perception. Here she deals with the traditional, generalizing role ascriptions of children and adults as well as the clichéd desire of adults for what is presumed to be the lost carefreeness of childhood.
 
 

Barbara Holub, video stills from children's video, 1999


Parallel to the exhibition, Barbara Holub had talks with employees from the Porsche company in Salzburg on their perception of life as children and as adults. Her film documentation of this served as integral part of her project at the Secession. She also asked Porsche employees to build a Carrera racing track in the lobby of the company building and to hold racing events. This was done with the intention of "sounding out a free space for play in the name of art".

She also discussed the same issues with acquaintances from the art world and friends. Both sequences of talks were integrated in her plan of the exhibition project at the Secession. In an assemblage of video, picture, sound and object installations, Barbara Holub is presenting the various aspects of her processing of the "role behavior" phenomenon. Here she does not postulate any ready solutions and academic doctrines. Rather she explores routine behavioral patterns in terms of their unquestioned acceptance.
 
 
PUBLICATION

BARBARA HOLUB authors: Kathrin Rhomberg, Werner Würtinger bilingual. Secession 1999 ___________________ available in the shop

 
Projects/exhibitions (selected): "Image Transfer", Öffentliche Orte/New York (1996); "Geheimnisträger", Neue Galerie, Graz (1997); "Tatort: Displaced Territories", Galerie Grita Insam, Wien (1998); "vertraulich behandelt", Bene Schau Raum, Wien (1998); "Driven", 7562 LR-Pick-up Truck Gallery, Chicago (1999).

PIERRE HUYGHE   OCTAVIAN TRAUTTMANSDORFF

EXHIBITION PROGRAM 1999

 
For further information and photographic material please contact:
 
Tamara Schwarzmayr
Secession, Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession
Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Vienna
Tel: +43-1-5875307-21, Fax: +43-1-5875307-34
presse@secession.at