“The Lesson”
 

Solo exhibition by Thorbjørn Bechmann (DK)

 

Opening reception: Friday,  May 17,  5-7 pm

 (May 17  –  June 15,  2013)

 

Address:   Palægade 5, 1261 Copenhagen K. 
Phone: +45  2125 2325

E-mail: bendixen@contemporary-art.dk

Tues – Friday: 12 – 17 ,   
Sat: 12 – 15

 

 

 



Bendixen Contemporary is hosting the exhibition “The Lesson”, the gallery’s first exhibition by the Danish artist, Thorbjørn Bechmann.

“The Lesson” is the result of a process, involving performance and props, later brought into the exhibition space in the shape of photographs, and objects, restaging the situation of the actual performance.


Underlying the formalization of Thorbjørn Bechmann’s work is an ironic, playful and subversive attitude which, through photos, objects and performance art, analyzes the contradictions of contemporary life constantly defined by social conventions. Relations between the individual and the relevant context of the subject become the focal point for this exhibition, by an artist who sees his practice as an investigatory process.

 

Thorbjørn Bechmann has, trough his latest exhibitions, worked with certain aspects of knowledge possession, and its distribution in the context of education. In this project, his starting point is the play, “La Lecon” by Eugène Ionesco from 1951, which was later adapted for the ballet by Flemming Flindt. Thorbjørn Bechmann restages the ballet, with himself as the protagonist and Danish solo dancer, Lis Jeppesen as the murderous teacher.  The outcome is a series of photographs and objects that plays with both fascination and disturbance.  

 

Taken as a whole, the exhibition questions the role of power and submission in times of heightened political consciousness. Problematizing the contingencies of a social contract, it points to an intuitive overarching process. “The Lesson” emphasizes the exchange between artist, artwork, and audience, namely the moment at which personal information is offered into the hands of the other, -the public.

 

 

Pressemeddelelse:

 

Bendixen Contemporary art  viser udstillingen ”The Lesson”. Udstillingen er galleriets første med den danske billedkunstner, Thorbjørn Bechmann.

 

”The Lesson” er resultatet af en proces der involverer perfomance og props, der efterfølgende bringes ind i udstillingsrummer i form af bearbejdede fotografier og objekter, i en geniscenesættelse af den oprindelige performance.

 

Under Thorbjørn Bechmanns arbejder løber en ironisk, legende og subversiv attitude, der gennem foto objekt og handling, beskæftiger sig med de paradokser der konstant er til forhandling i nutidigt liv. Relationer mellem mennesker, og subjektivets aktuelle kontekst, bliver fokuspunktet i denne udstilling, af en kunstner der betragter sit arbejde som en undersøgende proces.

 

Thorbjørn Bechmann har gennem sine seneste udstillinger arbejdet med viden, magt og distributionen af disse i undervisnings sammenhæng. Thorbjørn Bechmann tager i udstillingen, ”The Lesson” udgangspunkt i Ionesco's teaterstykke "Enetime" og i balletmester Flemming Flints fortolkning af stykket fra 1961. Han har i foråret 2013 genopført stykket på Det Kongelige Teater. Den mandlige lærer danses i denne version af Den Kongelige Danske Ballets solodanser Lis Jeppesen og den kvindelige studerende danses af Thorbjørn Bechman. I Thorbjørn Bechmanns re-enactment byttes kønsrollerne om. Uden at noget i princippet ændre sig; der er stadig en magtudøver og en underkastet.

Samlet stiller udstillingen spørgsmålstegn ved magt og underkastelse i alle relationer. ”The Lesson” problematiserer de sociale kontrakter der fastholder individet i specifikke positioner og peger direkte på det øjeblik hvor viden bliver til magt. Og tilbyder denne viden til et publikum.

 

 

 

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bendixen contemporary art
Palægade 5
DK-1261 København K
Phone 36160325

www.bendixenart.dk