Phil Collins
dal 9/6/2006 al 12/8/2006
Segnalato da
9/6/2006
Phil Collins
Kunsthalle Sankt Gallen, St. Gallen
One installation focuses on the confusion caused by his name, and the interactive Free fotolab
In recent years, British artist Collins has lived and worked in numerous locations, including Belfast, Belgrade, Baghdad, and Bogota'. Best known for his work in video, photography and video installation, Collins’ practice often revolves around convocation of individuals. Through choreographing seemingly playful situations and inviting his subjects to actively participate in the creative process of representation, Collins subtly challenges the documentary medium while retaining an incisive political and social dimension. Recent projects include a disco-dance marathon in Ramallah, the re-recording of a Smiths album in Bogota' with local musicians to produce a karaoke machine for fans, and an on-going series of portraits of art professionals taken immediately after being slapped around the face by the artist.
Collins has produced new work for the show at the Neue Kunst Halle, St Gallen. One installation focuses on the confusion caused by his name, which is the same as that of the world-famous singer and former Genesis drummer. The artist treats it as a kind of brand name. Phil Collins the musician lives in the Canton of Waadt in Switzerland, where he is a respected member of society and taxpayer. In his new work, the artist Phil Collins requests the town of St Gallen to set up a plaque announcing that it has adopted him as its official Phil Collins. In this way, the relatively unknown artist addresses the Pop industry’s star system and the celebrity status accorded some individuals in our society. The plaque in St Gallen is intended as a monument to an average citizen and artist, with all his problems, shortcomings and weaknesses. The familiarity of the name confuses the viewer and makes us realise that the “real" Phil Collins is a media construct. The installation nevertheless incorporates autobiographical elements.
A further piece also revolves around another Pop music figure. In his youth in the mid-1970s the Smiths singer Morissey wrote a flood of letters to such major British music magazines as NME (New Musical Express), Melody Maker and Sounds. Passionately committed, these letters consist of a mixture of aesthetic judgements, know-all attitudes and devastating attacks. With the help of local firms in St Gallen, Morissey’s critiques have been embroidered in gold on large pieces of fabric. Thus enlarged, the letters acquire an authoritative air while celebrating Morissey’s youthful boldness.
Also showing at the Neue Kunst Halle, St Gallen, is the installation Free fotolab, which reveals another dimension to Collins’s work. The artist, who is a devotee of snapshots, once worked in an express photo laboratory. The Kunst Halle has initiated widespread advertising drawing attention to the fact that roll films can de developed free of charge for the duration of the exhibition. In return, visitors transfer their photographic rights to the artist. Some photographs will be shown in large-scale prints at the Kunst Halle. Free fotolab is about ownership, picture rights and a rather unsettling deal. Would you, for instance, have your old 35mm films developed free and sacrifice your rights to the images knowing that your private photographs might be displayed in the Kunst Halle for everyone to see?
In cooperation with Milton Keynes Gallery, Milton Keynes
Curatorial Concept: Gianni Jetzer and Burkhard Meltzer
Spatial concept and Realisation: Georg Bringolf
With generous support by Kruger AG, Grellingen.
Friday, 9 June 2006, 7 PM Opening of the exhibition
The artists will meet the press on Friday, 9 June 2006, at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 2-4 PM Painting workshop for children
Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 7-9 PM Lecture of Dr. Jurgen Stohr, Art Historian, University of Konstanz
Thursday, 22 June 2006, 12 AM
ARTLUNCH with Felix Lehner, Kunstgiesserei St. Gallen
12 AM Guided tour with Burkhard Meltzer
12:30 AM Lunch, made by our visiting cook
Admission: CHF 20.- incl. lunch
Neue Kunst Halle St. Gallen
Davidstrasse 40 CH-9000 St. Gallen
Opening times
Tuesday to Friday, 2 - 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday, noon - 5 pm