Bjorn Melhus
dal 20/12/2005 al 21/1/2006
Segnalato da
20/12/2005
Bjorn Melhus
The Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu
The video installation Eastern_Western_Park plays on two coexisting sets of imaginary perceptions, simultaneously widespread and naive. The first comprises classic and often thoroughly misunderstood images of Native Americans and cowboys. Superimposed on this are equally stereotypical and ambiguous images of the Japanese schoolgirl. Part of 'Contemporary Masters' series which began with an exhibition of paintings by Neo Rauch.
Contemporary Masters
Bjorn Melhus: Eastern_Western_Park
The Honolulu Academy of Arts will present Bjorn Melhus: Eastern_ Western_Park
December 21, 2005 through January 22, 2006 in the Claire Boothe Luce Gallery.
Born in Kirchheim/Tech in southwestern Germany in 1966, Melhus has worked and
studied in both Europe and the United States. The Academy’s presentation of his
major video installation, Eastern_Western_Park, is the second exhibition in a new
series of works by contemporary masters, which began earlier this year with an
exhibition of paintings by Neo Rauch.
Eastern_Western_Park is built conceptually on two sets of stereotypes prevalent in
the Western world. The first comprises classic and often thoroughly misunderstood
images of Native Americans and cowboys of the Old West, as presented through the
best-selling popular novels of the German author Karl May (1842-1912). His stories,
which were later serialized on German television, were based on a combination of
propagandistic views of the American West and his own imagination. Significantly,
May never actually visited the American West, yet his stories were hugely popular
and are still published, including in English translation.
Superimposed on this are equally stereotypical and ambiguous images of the Japanese
schoolgirl. Significantly, these images are generated primarily in Japan, yet have
taken hold in the Western mind as well. As Melhus himself admits, his
interpretation of such images are “solely based on imagination and media
influences." As such, the video installation Eastern_Western_Park plays on two
coexisting sets of imaginary perceptions, simultaneously widespread and naive. The
entire installation is a vivid commentary on the degree to which many of our views
of the world are informed by nonsense, with all the “reality" of a theme park.
Melhus’s exhibitions are known for their rapid assault of images, washes of color,
and barrages of audio snippets, often using multiple video monitors and projectors
to accomplish exciting and provocative multi-media installations. Melhus has
exhibited his work at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, Long Beach Museum of Art,
Whitney Museum of American Art, and a variety of museums in Europe and Japan.
Melhus’ installation is accompanied by a limited edition artist’s book documenting
the work Eastern_Western_Park .
The Contemporary Masters @ Honolulu Academy of Arts series began in December 2004
with Neo Rauch: The Leipziger Volkszeitung Collection 1994-2002, the only North
American solo museum exhibition of Neo Rauch’s work.
For more information on Eastern_Western_Park , call the Academy at (808) 532-8700.
The Honolulu presentation of this exhibition is coordinated by Academy Director,
Stephen Little.
Image: You Are Not Alone, Bjorn Melhus (Hardcover)
Media Contact: Charlie Aldinger, Dir. of Public Relations
Exhibition Info: (808) 532-8701
Honolulu Academy of Arts
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