"I_SELF – Christin Lahr at the Race Street Gallery"
2006-03-31 until 2006-05-29
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
Grand Rapids, MI, USA United States of America

Lahr is a Berlin artist and Professor of Media Art at the Academy of Visual Arts in Leipzig, Germany. In I_Self, she intends to create in many ways the interaction with the curators as well as the visitors. The work of art is meant as an invitation and a demand to perform. Visitors become actors and part of the work of art. They could also take on the role of an artist. The artist formerly known as the originator becomes an observer now, but might soon return as a viewer, actor, artist… Indeed I_Self questions the limitations of an artwork, its terms of production and installation.

On the borders of physical and virtual spaces, its basic conditions, frameworks as well as accompanying marginal phenomena shall be illuminated and put up to debate. With direct links to major themes of art history, terms like conception, work of art, installation, context, presentation, production, reception, original, copy, reproducibility, authenticity, authorship will be turned upside down. Borders are blurred. Everybody plays varying roles. Based on the “Real Art Kit” including instruction manual, the curators assemble and finish the work of art. Thus, responsibility will be conceded. On the one hand, the operation manual is very specific, but on the other hand it leaves options open. The instruction sheets are main components of the work of art. They define how the work should look, but will also serve to manifest the differences between concept and realization. At least there will always be a description, even if there is nothing else. The whole exhibition space could be seen as a big unit, which has to be put into operation like an unknown machine. Could a work of art get out of control? The outcome remains to be seen…

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