Exhibition at the Rosenfeld Gallery
The common denominator amongst the participants in this exhibition is their partial or complete use of irony. This is not general irony aimed in all directions. This irony is directed inwards, towards their personal reality as artists, which sets them apart from the rest of the world.
This sort of undertaking requires a certain amount of courage, because perception of art is often accompanied by suspicion - not from the inner circles, but from the observer’s point of view. Because this suspicion is so thick and oppressive we have developed safety measures: we write catalogues, established museums and spread an economic safety net that reinforces the value component, which very often, is not obvious at all. In this way we supplemented the status of the artist, the creator, which distinguishes between his mistakes and yours. This status is simultaneously brittle, heroic, sublime and ridiculous, because of its fragility which means that every ironic statement is endangered. As far as you are concerned as an observer, you might find it laughable, but you are not in a position that enables you to understand that thing which you find laughable.
This is why when an artist takes your position upon himself, the duty of the observer, he puts himself doubly at risk: once, because he reinforces your ancient suspicion and a second time because this double negation – the artist as the devil’s advocate – completes an almost Socratic process. An onset of understanding arises from the questions which he poses, a fact that indicates that perhaps both of you – the artist and the observer – are in fact standing on the same side of the barricade.
This exhibition displays artworks created by artists from within the artistic establishment, who contest their position within the establishment and respond to it. Also, in contrast, it includes artists who do not belong to the establishment, or do not belong yet, but define themselves using the same mythical coordinates that are used by the establishment to maintain the artist’s status. These outsider artists are the most authentic dreamers out there; the ones who keep the flame going if you wish. Our regard for these people is endless and does not include an ounce of suspicious patronage from our part. We are in favor of everyone.
Participants: Azorro group (Oskar Dawicki, Igor Krenz, Wojciech Niedzielko, Lukasz Skapski(, Zoya Cherkassky, Harry Dodge and Stanya Kahn, Andrea Fraser, Yair Garbuz, Michal Na'aman
In cooperation with “tarbut.ru” project.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 12:00 - 19:00
Friday: 11:00 – 14:00
Saturday: 11:00 – 13:00
Rosenfeld Gallery
147 Dizengoff St.
Tel: 03-5229044
