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Galer�a Helga de Alvear: THOMAS DEMAND - 27 Nov 2009 to 10 Jan 2010 Current Exhibition |
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THOMAS DEMAND
"Heldenorgel", 2009. C-Print on Diasec, 240 x 380 cm. (Detail) Image � Thomas Demand, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn / VEGAP, Madrid |
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THOMAS DEMAND Galer�a Helga de Alvear 27 November 2009 - 10 January 2010 Opening hours: 11:00 - 14:00 and 16:30 - 20:30 Opening: Thursday 27 November, 20.00 Thomas Demand returns to Galer�a Helga de Alvear with a selection of his most recent work, which is open concurrently with his major retrospective exhibition at the Nationalgalerie in Berlin. His work relates to photography but also sculpture and is without doubt one of the seminal artists of the international scene in recent decades. Most of the subject matter found in the works is sourced from well known images, broadcast by the media. Therefore the event is defined within these single images in an all encompassing and summarized version. The content is reproduced in a three-dimensional model of paper which is then in turn photographed. Thus, it is the photograph of a sculptural recreation of a photographic representation of a reality. The transfer of the reality on paper is seamless to the point of being unreal, juxtaposed with an apparent simplicity and tranquility, alluding to a certain restlessness that drives us to go beyond mere contemplation. Demand however is always kept within certain limits as to the amount of data that he delivers: they are iconic images of what is represented but also do not contain all the information. They are so literal but also evocative of what remains. The selection of works presented in this exhibition is in line with mostly very recent works: In "Heldenorgel / The organ of the Heroes" (2009) reproduces the memorial to the victims of the First World War of Kufstein in Austria. Its main feature was that it was made, not in stone or bronze as usual, but with musical notes and all day at noon, the song sounded "Die alten Kameraden�. One of the most unique images is undoubtedly "Haltestelle" (2009) which represents the typical German bus stop in a small town near Magdeburg called Loitsche. This location is where the Kaulitz brothers used to meet and where they decided to form a musical group which later became known worldwide as Tokio Hotel. As fans camped nearby the structure, neighbors eventually decided to get rid of the wooden bus shelter, to be replaced by a modern version made from steel and glass, disassociating the location from the musical group. They tried to auction the former to raise funds but due to the lack of bids realized they began to divide into smaller parts until the whole structure was sold in pieces measuring 20 cm. In "Fotoecke / Photo Booth" (2009) Demand constructs a room in the prison of Gera, specifically the room where the prisoners were photographed daily and consisted of a fixed camera, a flash, a chair and a white wall as background . Years later, after the closure of the prison, an investigation began due to the alarming number of cases of the former prisoners suffering from leukemia. It was later discovered that behind the curtain was an X-ray machine that had been in use without a lens, potentially emitting radiation for years. Officially, without significant proof, they could not prove the relationship between these two events. Finally, "Kinderzimmer / Children's Room" (2009) is linked to personal memories of the artist and his private environment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For further information, contact the gallery at the address below. [email protected] [email protected] Galer�a Helga de Alvear Doctor Fourquet, 12 28012 Madrid Tl. 91 468 05 06 Fax 91 467 51 34 |
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