Hans Weigand, Cotton 2001, Secession 2001
Hans Weigand's artistic strategy is based on taking banal everyday phenomena and ways of living that are considered average, and humorously manipulating and continuing their language of forms. With his background in the world of pop, his way of dealing with the codes of the everyday show is both reflective and entertaining. The specific artistic technique he uses plays only a subordinate role in this, as he links photography and painting with video, music, performance or literature, and new fields of experimentation are constantly being added.
The point of departure for the exhibition "Cotton 2001" and representative for the utopias of the 60's, are the German dime novel series "Jerry Cotton" and Stanley Kubrick's story of evolution that has become a film classic, "2001 - Space Odyssey".
Hans Weigand, Cotton 2001, Secession 2001
For the Secession, Hans Weigand has created an installation filling the entire room. The installation consists of two structures, a cuboid and a tube. Visitors can enter these structures, which are connected by a bridge. Inside this ensemble, Hans Weigand presents the works especially created for this exhibition. A photo novel produced by the artist and manipulated on the computer is attached to the outside facade of the cuboid, the "Jerry Cotton House". The novel tells the story of a woman revenging her father that Cotton put in prison. The story plays in an artist milieu and switches between Germany, Austria, Mexico and the USA, where the elaborate shootings were done, too. The photo novel is accompanied on the inside of the house by concomitant video sequences, paintings and objects.
Hans Weigand, Cotton 2001, Secession 2001
The second structure, which is a reference to "2001 - Space Odyssey" and other science fiction films of the 60's in its material aesthetics and language of forms, can be traversed on a suspended walkway. Hans Weigand's work on the theme of 'utopias' are shown on the inside. In the way that they overwhelm habitual perception, the sheer mass purposely associates and caricatures the aesthetics of so-called experience exhibitions.
Hans Weigand, Cotton 2001, Secession 2001
Since 1956, the "Jerry Cotton" dime novels have been published weekly; to date there are about 2500 editions. They are modeled on agents such as James Bond and detective stories by authors such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammet. With the "Jerry Cotton" stories, post-war Germany created its own America: a land of opportunities with room for freedom, wealth and adventure. This utopia of new border-crossing experiences and conquests merges with exciting technological inventions to determine future ideas of life in space as well. In a way similar to George Orwell's "1984", "2001" transports very specific aesthetic and social expectations, which include in the film the blurring boundaries between man and machine, for example, and emotionally stunted human beings.
Hans Weigand, Cotton 2001, Secession 2001
In his revisions and new treatments of the stories, in his montages and collages, Hans Weigand investigates whether and to what extent the future visions of the sixties are far removed from current social and technological developments.
PRODUCTION "Cotton 2001"
Photos: Stefan Bidner, Thomas Feuerstein, Marko Lulic, Ina-Maria Rittmeyr, Elfie Semotan, Hans Weigand; Actors: Stefan Bidner, Lizzie Bougatsos, Colin DeLand, Bernhard Fruehwirth, Uli Fuchs, Irmelin Hoffer, Norbert Klammer, Terrance Leech, Reinald Nohal, Roberto Ohrt, Raymond Pettibon, Kembra Pfahler, Alexandra Seibel, Franz Steinmeier, Lothar Tirala, Mike Watt, Nina Wedl, Michel Würthle, Raul Zamora
PUBLICATION
An 8-page folder will be published for the exhibition with an excerpt from an interview with Hans Weigand by Christian Höller. In conjunction with the exhibition, Hans Weigand will be working on an artist book in a limited edition.
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HANS WEIGAND Cotton 2001 6 pages with colored illustrations Interview: Christian Höller, Hans Weigand Secession 2001 ___________________ Available in the shop |
EXHIBITION DISCUSSION
In connection with the exhibition "Cotton 2001", the Friends of the Secession will organize an exhibition discussion with Hans Weigand and Christian Höller on Thursday, 5 July, 7:00 p.m.
BIOGRAPHY
Hans Weigand, born 1954, lives and works in Vienna.
Exhibitions (selected): (2000) Salzburger Kunstverein, Porsche Austria, Salzburg; DAF de Doef, Performance im Marstall, München (with J. Meese &. R. Pettibon); (1999) Life-Boat, MAK-Schindler House, Los Angeles; (1998) Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach; Galerie Hoffmann und Senn, Vienna; (1997) Villa Arson, Nice; (1996) Nice Fine Arts, Nice; (1995) Forum Stadtpark, Prague; (1993) Salzburger Kunstverein (with Thomas Locher); Gallery Achim Kubinski, New York
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CREISCHER THE EXPERIMENT
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EXHIBITION PROGRAM 2001 |
For their kind support of the exhibition, we would like to thank:
Alu König Stahl, Vienna; Deko Trend, Guntramsdorf; Drumetall, Gratwein; Rank Xerox Austria;
Richter & Co, Pressbaum by Vienna (general agency for Skai); G. Wolfram Farben-Handels Ges.m.b.H.
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