Enemy of the Stars
20 May - 06 Aug 2017
Ronald Jones, Untitled (DNA Fragment from Human Chromosome 13 carrying Mutant Rb Genes also known as Malignant Oncogenes which trigger rapid Cancer Tumorigenesis), 1989, Courtesy Rachel and Jean-Pierre Lehmann Collection
ENEMY OF THE STARS
20 May – 6 August 17
Ronald Jones in dialogue with David Hammons, Louise Lawler, Helmar Lerski, and Julia Scher
American artist and critic Ronald Jones (born 1952) gained prominence in New York during the mid-1980s by using disparate formal and minimal languages to explore history as a medium. Through juxtapositions of historical events, innovations, discoveries, violence and fear, he explores the complex interrelation of events as they define our perception of ourselves and the world often through connecting seemingly unrelated occurrences. The relationship between the modernist code and the codes of power is the persistent theme in his work.
Following his show at the Grazer Kunstverein in 2014, which presented works to the public for the first time since his withdrawal as an artist in the mid-1990’s, the exhibition Enemy of the Stars aims to reflect and expand upon Ronald Jones’ practice.
In order to open a critical dialogue on how political ideas relate to biography, text in relation to form, and identity in relation to subject, crucial works will be placed in close dialogue with peers at the time such as David Hammons, Louise Lawler and Julia Scher as well as with historical works from Helmar Lerski.
The exhibition will be accompanied by the series Addendum, featuring works by Jenna Bliss, K.r.m. Mooney, Sidsel Meineche Hansen and Ishion Hutchinson. Through temporary sculptural insertions, performance, film, readings and collaborative practices the series temporarily expands on, complicates, and probes the premises of the exhibition.
The exhibition Enemy of the Stars is organized by artist Jason Dodge and Krist Gruijthuijsen, director of KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Addendum is organized by Anna Gritz, curator at KW.
The exhibition is generously supported by the U.S. Embassy Berlin, KW Freunde e. V., Members of KUNST-WERKE BERLIN e. V., and Julia Stoschek Collection. The presentation of the work of Helmar Lerski is supported by Museum Folkwang, Essen (DE). With special thanks to Christine König and Christiane Rhein.
20 May – 6 August 17
Ronald Jones in dialogue with David Hammons, Louise Lawler, Helmar Lerski, and Julia Scher
American artist and critic Ronald Jones (born 1952) gained prominence in New York during the mid-1980s by using disparate formal and minimal languages to explore history as a medium. Through juxtapositions of historical events, innovations, discoveries, violence and fear, he explores the complex interrelation of events as they define our perception of ourselves and the world often through connecting seemingly unrelated occurrences. The relationship between the modernist code and the codes of power is the persistent theme in his work.
Following his show at the Grazer Kunstverein in 2014, which presented works to the public for the first time since his withdrawal as an artist in the mid-1990’s, the exhibition Enemy of the Stars aims to reflect and expand upon Ronald Jones’ practice.
In order to open a critical dialogue on how political ideas relate to biography, text in relation to form, and identity in relation to subject, crucial works will be placed in close dialogue with peers at the time such as David Hammons, Louise Lawler and Julia Scher as well as with historical works from Helmar Lerski.
The exhibition will be accompanied by the series Addendum, featuring works by Jenna Bliss, K.r.m. Mooney, Sidsel Meineche Hansen and Ishion Hutchinson. Through temporary sculptural insertions, performance, film, readings and collaborative practices the series temporarily expands on, complicates, and probes the premises of the exhibition.
The exhibition Enemy of the Stars is organized by artist Jason Dodge and Krist Gruijthuijsen, director of KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Addendum is organized by Anna Gritz, curator at KW.
The exhibition is generously supported by the U.S. Embassy Berlin, KW Freunde e. V., Members of KUNST-WERKE BERLIN e. V., and Julia Stoschek Collection. The presentation of the work of Helmar Lerski is supported by Museum Folkwang, Essen (DE). With special thanks to Christine König and Christiane Rhein.