Happiness
dal 22/3/2006 al 17/4/2006
Segnalato da
Kim Hiorthoy
Katharina Wulff
Gerry Bibby
Henning Bohl
Judith Hopf
Geerten Verheus
Mungo Thomson
Peter Coffinu'
Simone Gilges
Martin Germann
22/3/2006
Happiness
Gagosian Gallery Berlin, Berlin
The works in the group exhibition all attempt to illustrate collective and individual memories, as well as the struggle and desire for certain ideal physical and mental states-often using pop culture references-including bliss, euphoria, buoyancy and happiness. Germans often use the English word happiness to express a brief, fleeting sensation that expires the very moment it arises.
Gagosian Gallery, Berlin is pleased to present "Happiness," a group exhibition
featuring works by Henning Bohl, Gerry Bibby, Peter Coffin, Simone Gilges, Judith
Hopf, Kim Hiorthoy, Chris Johanson, Sean Landers, Tere Recarens, Mungo Thomson,
Kerry Tribe, Geerten Verhues and Katharina Wulff.
The works in the show all attempt to illustrate collective and individual memories,
as well as the struggle and desire for certain ideal physical and mental
states-often using pop culture references-including bliss, euphoria, buoyancy and
happiness.
In contemporary colloquial speech, the original 'good life' of moral philosophy and
ancient Greece that is associated with the notion of happiness is usually replaced
by a more hedonistic idea of fun. Moreover, 'happiness' is a word used so frequently
and in so many different contexts that it has become an international expression, a
universal shorthand for which the German language seems to have no native
equivalent. Neither unpredictable 'Gluck' (luck or fortune), nor light-hearted
'Frohlichkeit' (cheerful or merriment) adequately describes 'happiness.' Germans
often use the English word to express a brief, fleeting sensation that expires the
very moment it arises.
Within this frame of reference, many of the works in the exhibition reveal a
remarkable sense of capriciousness and tend towards the ephemeral, such as the sound
miniature by Kim Hiorthoy and Katharina Wulff's self-reflective drawings. Another
common feature in the show is the transformation of everyday objects into
purposeless things, as demonstrated by Gerry Bibby, Henning Bohl, Judith Hopf and
Geerten Verheus. Other works rely heavily on the overwhelming amount of symbols, and
experiences of a world dominated by images, sounds, gatherings and endless
information, as seen in the video by Sean Landers featuring the artist dancing with
himself and Mungo Thomson's stained glass windows in addition to works by Peter
Coffin and Simone Gilges.
Subject matter and first impressions or assumptions fade quickly, which is one of
the essential features of these works. That brief feeling of happiness, like the
feeling a good pop song evokes; this perfect moment when you reach an epiphany which
emerges out of an amalgamation of other harmonies and sensations.
Opening reception: Thursday, March 23, 7 - 9 pm
Gagosian Gallery Berlin
Auguststrasse 50A - Berlin