Kunstverein am Rosa–Luxemburg–Platz

Arnaud Cohen

Hunting Season

16 Sep - 28 Oct 2017

ARNAUD COHEN
Hunting Season
16 September – 28 October 2017

In autumn elections are held in Germany. Against the background of the growing influence of right-wing parties and groupings in the whole of Europe, the Verein zur Förderung von Kunst und Kultur am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz e.V invited the French artist Arnaud Cohen to show his installation Hunting Season (2016) in Berlin. In addition, the artist has developed a new work of related content: Dansez sûr moi (2017). These two installations form the core of the exhibition. In addition, older work is shown; including Smileys Revanchard (2011) and Winter over Europe (Ich lieb dich nicht, du liebst mich nicht).

Hunting Season refers to the famous ‚Rien‘, Louis XVI noted in his hunting diary on the eve of the French Revolution. Originally exclusively related to the King’s hunting success, the interpretation suggests that this was a sign of a complete misunderstanding of one’s own as well as the historical situation. For the foyer of the L40, where the Kunstverein is located, the artist has built a version of the entry in neon. This will be shown as the 22nd edition of the wallworks series until October 28th, 2017.

The original version of Hunting Season finds its place in the exhibition space. It is supplemented by the work Dansez sur moi, which Cohen has developed especially for Berlin. It is based on a kind of archaeological study of his studio, the so-called Coutellerie, whose turbulent history included occupation and collaboration during the occupation of France in the Second World War and reign of the Vichy regime. Part of the presentation will be a dance performance on the installation.