The works of Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset represent an ongoing investigation of established structures in society. Their many performances and installations can be interpreted as a series of proposals about how these structures could be disrupted and broken up.
In their exhibition at Index they are, as in many of their earlier works, focusing on underlying structures in the art scene. On this occasion, they have moved one of Berlin's commercial galleries, Galerie Klosterfelde, to Index. Nikola Dietrich from Klosterfelde will turn part of Index into her office; herself and her work making up part of the exhibit.
The work also includes a group exhibition of Galerie Klosterfelde's artists, as selected by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. These chosen pieces complement their work dealing with issues involving the exhibition process, the art scene and the art gallery as an institution.
Michael Elmgreen says in an interview with Hans Ulrich Obrist: no structure is able to suppress anyone, not the structure itself. It's only how you deal with the structures already being there, an all structures can be altered or mutated.
- Helena Holmberg
An interview with the artists appears on the Index web site.
The group show represents the following artists, including Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset themselves: Matthew Antezzo (USA), John Bock (Germany), Stefan Hirsig (Germany), Christian Jankowski (Germany), Ulrike Kuschel (Germany), Peter Land (Denmark), Nader (Iran), Henrik Olesen (Denmark), Dan Peterman (USA), Kirsten Pieroth (Germany), Steven Pippin (England) and Vibeke Tandberg (Norway).
Michael Elmgreen (Denmark) and Ingar Dragset (Norway) have worked together since 1995. In recent years their work has been shown at: Nuit Blanche, Musée d'Art Moderne, Paris (1998), Manifesta III, Ljubljana (2000), Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig (2000), What if..., Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2000), Portikus, Frankfurt (2001), Galerie Klosterfelde, Berlin, Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen and other galleries and institutions.
They will also be participating in the Sao Paolo Biennial (2002).
IMAGE:
copyright Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset
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