Hannes Zebedin
20 Feb - 13 Apr 2009
HANNES ZEBEDIN
Mit Schwung durchqueren anstatt sich aufzuhalten
February 20 – April 13, 2009
Grafisches Kabinett
When Hannes Zebedin transforms the staircase leading up to the Graphic Cabinet into a minimalist space bathed in gleaming white light, he is citing the idea of the white cube, the ideal of a modern exhibition space.
Visitors must not step on to the staircase: With all functional details artistically effaced, it no longer fulfils the statutory requirements. In so doing, Zebedin not only underscores the sculptural nature of the installation, but also introduces another layer of discourse: the question of regulation, restriction and power relations in civil society.
Zebedin takes a quotation of the Italian futurist Aldo Palazzeschi as a guiding principle and title for his exhibition: “Instead of dwelling in the darkness of pain, we want to cross it boldly so as to enter the light of laughter”, written – at least fragmentarily – on the wall of the staircase.
The equally inaccessible exhibition room of the Graphic Cabinet presents the scenario of a (supposed) act of vandalism. Here Hannes Zebedin examines the aesthetic potential of a political-activist act. With the windows smashed, the exhibition room resembles a devastated place: pieces of broken glass and cobblestones lie scattered across the floor, the lights are off, the weather and street noise penetrate the room unfiltered and can still be heard at the entrance to the stairs. However, the devastation can only be imagined or viewed in the catalogue. All you can see from the street side is the broken window panes.
The transformation of the two spaces is directly opposed. The construction of an “ideal” situation on the one hand contrasts with the destruction of an ideal situation on the other. What does the social consensus define as within and without the accepted norm? What is regarded as a transgression of this norm?
A characteristic trait of Hannes Zebedin’s artistic position is the search for possibilities of a clear political or artistic attitude that forms a contrast to the post-modern stance of “anything goes”. In this new intervention, once again he explores the possibilities of individual articulation in the face of other forces in civil society.
Hannes Zebedin (b. in 1976 in Lienz) lives and works in Vienna.
Solo shows and interventions
2009 Mit Schwung durchqueren anstatt sich aufzuhalten, Secession, Vienna; 2007 Ein Sonntag im Museum (with Adrien Tirtiaux), Baumgasse 30a, Vienna; 2006 Lyudmila und Kalinka, public space, Tromsö, Norway; 2005 Marcus Omofuma Stein, public space, Vienna; 2004 3sprachig50%, Republiksplatz, Belgrade.
Group shows (selection)
2009 Spotlight. Neuzugänge seit 2006, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg(*); Bürger/in Bosnien und Herzegowinas, Klub Ost, Vienna; 2008 Am Rande Pathetik, Fluc, Vienna; Kleinstes Gemeinsames Vielfaches, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Backstage Tourism, Gemäldegalerie, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Archive in residence, UNA Gallery, Bucharest; 2007 Frisch vom Friseur auf der Suche nach der Modernen, Kurzbauergasse 8, Vienna; Kaffee und Drina, Vereinigung Bildender Künstlerinnen Österreichs, Vienna; Ausgesetzt_spaesato, Galleria Lungomare, Bozen; 2006 God is a gallery, Galuzin Gallery, Oslo; Gallery of the HfBK Hamburg; All night long, Christine König Galerie, Vienna (*); Verk, Forsbakka, Schweden; Spektrum Farbe, Landesmuseum Niederösterreich, St. Pölten (*); Give me five, Tanzquartier Wien (*); 2005 Medialisierung, Spatialisierung, (Re)Politisierung, Arbeit, Fluc, Vienna; 4 a different view, Cafe Rot, Vienna; Rückverortung des Sozialen, VBKÖ, Vienna; Mundpropaganda, Amthof, Feldkirchen; 2004 Real Presence 04, Museum des 25. Mai, Belgrade.
(*) with Markus Gradner, Daniel Ramirez, Stephan Uggowitzer
Exhibition views: Wolfgang Thaler
Mit Schwung durchqueren anstatt sich aufzuhalten
February 20 – April 13, 2009
Grafisches Kabinett
When Hannes Zebedin transforms the staircase leading up to the Graphic Cabinet into a minimalist space bathed in gleaming white light, he is citing the idea of the white cube, the ideal of a modern exhibition space.
Visitors must not step on to the staircase: With all functional details artistically effaced, it no longer fulfils the statutory requirements. In so doing, Zebedin not only underscores the sculptural nature of the installation, but also introduces another layer of discourse: the question of regulation, restriction and power relations in civil society.
Zebedin takes a quotation of the Italian futurist Aldo Palazzeschi as a guiding principle and title for his exhibition: “Instead of dwelling in the darkness of pain, we want to cross it boldly so as to enter the light of laughter”, written – at least fragmentarily – on the wall of the staircase.
The equally inaccessible exhibition room of the Graphic Cabinet presents the scenario of a (supposed) act of vandalism. Here Hannes Zebedin examines the aesthetic potential of a political-activist act. With the windows smashed, the exhibition room resembles a devastated place: pieces of broken glass and cobblestones lie scattered across the floor, the lights are off, the weather and street noise penetrate the room unfiltered and can still be heard at the entrance to the stairs. However, the devastation can only be imagined or viewed in the catalogue. All you can see from the street side is the broken window panes.
The transformation of the two spaces is directly opposed. The construction of an “ideal” situation on the one hand contrasts with the destruction of an ideal situation on the other. What does the social consensus define as within and without the accepted norm? What is regarded as a transgression of this norm?
A characteristic trait of Hannes Zebedin’s artistic position is the search for possibilities of a clear political or artistic attitude that forms a contrast to the post-modern stance of “anything goes”. In this new intervention, once again he explores the possibilities of individual articulation in the face of other forces in civil society.
Hannes Zebedin (b. in 1976 in Lienz) lives and works in Vienna.
Solo shows and interventions
2009 Mit Schwung durchqueren anstatt sich aufzuhalten, Secession, Vienna; 2007 Ein Sonntag im Museum (with Adrien Tirtiaux), Baumgasse 30a, Vienna; 2006 Lyudmila und Kalinka, public space, Tromsö, Norway; 2005 Marcus Omofuma Stein, public space, Vienna; 2004 3sprachig50%, Republiksplatz, Belgrade.
Group shows (selection)
2009 Spotlight. Neuzugänge seit 2006, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg(*); Bürger/in Bosnien und Herzegowinas, Klub Ost, Vienna; 2008 Am Rande Pathetik, Fluc, Vienna; Kleinstes Gemeinsames Vielfaches, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Backstage Tourism, Gemäldegalerie, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna; Archive in residence, UNA Gallery, Bucharest; 2007 Frisch vom Friseur auf der Suche nach der Modernen, Kurzbauergasse 8, Vienna; Kaffee und Drina, Vereinigung Bildender Künstlerinnen Österreichs, Vienna; Ausgesetzt_spaesato, Galleria Lungomare, Bozen; 2006 God is a gallery, Galuzin Gallery, Oslo; Gallery of the HfBK Hamburg; All night long, Christine König Galerie, Vienna (*); Verk, Forsbakka, Schweden; Spektrum Farbe, Landesmuseum Niederösterreich, St. Pölten (*); Give me five, Tanzquartier Wien (*); 2005 Medialisierung, Spatialisierung, (Re)Politisierung, Arbeit, Fluc, Vienna; 4 a different view, Cafe Rot, Vienna; Rückverortung des Sozialen, VBKÖ, Vienna; Mundpropaganda, Amthof, Feldkirchen; 2004 Real Presence 04, Museum des 25. Mai, Belgrade.
(*) with Markus Gradner, Daniel Ramirez, Stephan Uggowitzer
Exhibition views: Wolfgang Thaler