Finissage | Kunsthaus Graz, medien.kunstlabor

[ubermorgen]

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     http://ubermorgen.com/baby/en/billie_ada_poster_e.jpg
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     ubermorgen | Sleeping Baby - Playing Baby
     Exhibition 18 - 28 February
     Finissage 29 February

     Curator: Franz Xaver

     Kunsthaus Graz medien.kunstlabor gallery
     Lendkai 1, A-8020 Graz
     T +43 316/8017-9226
     http://medien.kunstlabor.at
     fx at kunstlabor.at

     Image: ubermorgen, poster, installation, Graz 2004
     Photo: The White House / ubermorgen


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     "digital actions" have been the primary focus of a group known by 
the name "ubermorgen" -  they have gathered only a peripheral interest 
in contemporary art history and science. However, it is seen that 
ubermorgen's work falls into the category of marginal, unworthy 
so-called "net.art" or curiously represents a certain kind of 
(temporary) "fool's genius"; thus: a body of work merely a concession 
to today's ruling technologies.

      For the first time being, ubermorgen bring their communications 
and actions strategies into the central and (sur)realistic space of a 
gallery/museum, working with a subdued and subtle set of digital and 
mass media. The living subject and its formalized world of objects 
enter into direct communication with its / their audience. This work 
shows the organic and harmony-oriented weltbild of the young artist 
couple lizvlx and hans bernhard; as well as their six months old 
daughter billie-ada.

      ubermorgen is globally re-known for their digital actionism, their 
legal art (F)originals and media-hacking: actions like [V]ote-auction, 
Nazi~Line in cooperation with C. Schlingensief, Injunction Generator 
etc.; and for Hans Bernhard's (etoy.HANS) work with the artist group 
etoy (the digital hijack, etoy.TANK-SYSTEM, etoy.SHARES, etoy.TANK-17, 
the etoy.HOLDING, etc.).

      Installation: futon, soft greyish cover, Chicco-trapeze, 
Chicco-train [both interactive plastic toys with music and light], 
Chicco-key-chain, textile book, teddybear, waterbottle, pacifier, 
diverse H&M garments, baby sling, silver Buggy Mummy, book "Pippi 
Longstocking", Corolle doll height 52cm [handmade].

      In depth: an analysis of the installation / performance "Playing 
Baby - Sleeping Baby" at the Kunsthaus Graz shows the piece to be a 
work of "Genre Art" combining a subtle actionist composition of imagery 
with an evenly subtle meaning: we are confronted with an allegory of 
life itself. At the first - most impartial - glance the depicted scene 
displays the following: the center of the image captured in an almost 
starlightly kind of way; a baby playing on a bed-like cloth (it moves 
around the image); its bodily gestures - not the secundary movements of 
the head and eyes - points to a (compactly walling the back of the 
image) monolithic wall made of lockers equipped with internet servers 
[data-spind]. It is toned in blue light and strangely manipulates the 
technological perception of the room by its weight.

      ubermorgen's toddler image culminates into a 
religious-metaphysical interpretation of life; the image immanentely 
transcends the resignative and / or pessimistic "stadienlehre" of those 
beginning moments - and thusly falsifies it. Moreover, the observer of 
ubermorgen's "Playing Baby - Sleeping Baby" ascends an allegory of 
life, which appears to be without comparison in art history.


     Images and Links:
     Live-Webcam: http://195.177.250.6
     Webcam images (archive): http://gw.kunstlabor.at/ubermorgen/
     http://www.ubermorgen.com/exhibitions/installations/spielendes_baby/

     Contact:
     Kunsthaus Graz medien.kunstlabor
     Lendkai 1, A-8020 Graz
     T +43 316/8017-9226
     http://medien.kunstlabor.at
     fx at kunstlabor.at

     Opening hours:
     daily 10 am - 8 pm

     Finissage:
     February 29th
     6 pm - 8 pm
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