Dóra Maurer / Kurt Kren
Relative Swingings
30 Sep - 27 Nov 2016
Creating structures that can be communicated using the material of film has fascinated artists and filmmakers on both sides of the Iron Curtain since the late 1950s. With "Dóra Maurer / Kurt Kren. Relative Swingings", Badischer Kunstverein is showing a second part on structural film in which the work of Hungarian artist Dóra Maurer is explored in more depth through additional cinematic and photographic works and juxtaposed with works by the Austrian filmmaker Kurt Kren (d. 1998).
Kurt Kren is, alongside Peter Kubelka, a pioneer of avant-garde and structural film. The exhibition will show a representative selection of films, in which Kren consistently explores the material qualities of the medium while navigating between formalism, actionism, and poetics.
Dóra Maurer works with a range of different media, such as film, photography, printing, drawing, and painting. Since the 1970s, conceptual photographs and structural films have been created in which the artist analyzes various processes of movement, perception and variation. Despite a certain subtlety and poetics, her works are based on rigorously calculated structures that refer to geometric-mathematical systems and methodologies.
Works of both artists construct idiosyncratic perceptual situations. Instead of presenting narrative illusions, they direct attention to the formal aspects of film.
Curated by Anja Casser and Lívia Nolasco-Rózsás
Dóra Maurer (b. 1937 Budapest) lives and works in Budapest. Maurer works with film, photography, painting, and graphics. Her works are represented in many collections and have been shown around the globe: Ludwig Múzeum of Contemporary Art Budapest; The Art Institute of Chicago; MoMA New York; 12th Istanbul Biennale; mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Vienna; Tate Modern London; amongst others.
Kurt Kren (b. 1929 in Vienna, †1998 in Vienna) was an Austrian avant-garde filmmaker who participated in the Viennese Actionism. In the early 1950s, Kren began working on experimental 8mm films, continuing with serial montage technique on 16mm films, followed by film documentaries on material actions by several artists. In 1977, Kren participated in the documenta 6 in Kassel. He is considered to be co-founder of the Vienna Institute of Direct Art and the Austria Filmmakers Cooperative.
Kurt Kren is, alongside Peter Kubelka, a pioneer of avant-garde and structural film. The exhibition will show a representative selection of films, in which Kren consistently explores the material qualities of the medium while navigating between formalism, actionism, and poetics.
Dóra Maurer works with a range of different media, such as film, photography, printing, drawing, and painting. Since the 1970s, conceptual photographs and structural films have been created in which the artist analyzes various processes of movement, perception and variation. Despite a certain subtlety and poetics, her works are based on rigorously calculated structures that refer to geometric-mathematical systems and methodologies.
Works of both artists construct idiosyncratic perceptual situations. Instead of presenting narrative illusions, they direct attention to the formal aspects of film.
Curated by Anja Casser and Lívia Nolasco-Rózsás
Dóra Maurer (b. 1937 Budapest) lives and works in Budapest. Maurer works with film, photography, painting, and graphics. Her works are represented in many collections and have been shown around the globe: Ludwig Múzeum of Contemporary Art Budapest; The Art Institute of Chicago; MoMA New York; 12th Istanbul Biennale; mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Vienna; Tate Modern London; amongst others.
Kurt Kren (b. 1929 in Vienna, †1998 in Vienna) was an Austrian avant-garde filmmaker who participated in the Viennese Actionism. In the early 1950s, Kren began working on experimental 8mm films, continuing with serial montage technique on 16mm films, followed by film documentaries on material actions by several artists. In 1977, Kren participated in the documenta 6 in Kassel. He is considered to be co-founder of the Vienna Institute of Direct Art and the Austria Filmmakers Cooperative.