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27/2/2007

Prophets of Deceit

Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus

Group show

Curated by Magali Arriola

Through a selection of works of art, Prophets of Deceit examines messianic and apocalyptic cults, predictions, and prophecies as systems of restraining social behavior that ultimately influence the outcome of history. The exhibition includes work by twelve international artists who consider the degree that prophetic guidelines—set either by individuals, extreme religions, or unexpected events—play in shaping modern economic, cultural and political frameworks. Exploring the theory that anticipated knowledge, fear, and irrational systems of thought about the future can indeed produce self-fulfilling prophecies, the exhibition includes work that draws inspiration from artistic and historical precedents to provide insight of the world in which we currently live. The artists in Prophets of Deceit sharply question the power of belief, religion, and politics within a media-saturated society.

“Looking into notions of mysticism, religion and the occult as guidelines that assess the development of history, Prophets of Deceit constitutes an essay on the pervading significance of messianic and apocalyptic cults both as systems of restraint of social behavior, and as seditious exercises that seek to subvert those very same structures that brought them into play,” says curator Magali Arriola. The works in the exhibition posit a series of scenarios in which retroactive myths and self-fulfilling prophecies are enacted as exercises of ideological juggling. In doing so, they not only point to the symptoms of a widespread phenomenon that embraces the specter of authoritarian irrationalism, but also investigate the role of art within the culture industry by questioning artists’ function and the interpretation of their messages in a media-saturated society.

Artists include Craig Baldwin, Tacita Dean, Rod Dickinson, HCRH, Christian Jankowski, Joachim Koester, Komar & Melamid, John Menick, Melvin Moti, Raymond Pettibon, Mungo Thomson, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, and Erik Pauser (PHAUSS).

Opening reception February 28, 5:30 to 8 pm

Image: Joachim Koester

Canzani Center Gallery
Cleveland Avenue
Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursdays until 8 p.m.

stampa

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