translated and summarized by: Liz Wollner-Grandville,
061210: Kunsthaus Graz Robot dreams
Kunsthaus Graz
Robot dreams
09.10.10 to 20.02.11
Myths – Men – Machines
The introduction of technology into the human existence was and is - from an historic point of view - one of steady progression. Likewise that of the dream of the perfect human being. The speed of both developments began to accelerate rapidly in the 18th century. And in these developments, it always centered around man himself even if it often appeared that the focus was laid on technology. The exhibition in the Kunsthaus Graz - in co-operation with the Museum Tinguely, Basel - which calls itself Robot Dreams and interestingly enough, plays on the double meaning of the dreams about robots and the dream of robots.
The starting point is Isaac Asimov’s short story with the same title, in which a robot is eliminated, who begins to dream and further, who imagines himself as a human being, all of which is not allowed since it conflicts in every case with the robot laws created by Asimov. This is also an element which appears in the science fiction film, "I, Robot" one of the films which Virgil Widrich uses for his film collage "make / real" (2010). Here, Widrich creates a work of incredible intensity in which he compresses key scenes from science fiction films together, thereby not presenting the robot itself but rather a whole view of the picture, the robot's dream.
The spectrum of the exhibition encompasses contemporary works, which sound out the present technical possibilities such as, for example, those of Jessica Field, Sibylle Hauert and Daniel Reichmuth or John Dekron, or declare technology and culture as areas of tension.
Kirsty Boyle's work, "Tree Ceremony" (2010) a robot figure, clothed as a geisha girl, is engaged in a Shinto ritual with a tree. From time to time, the robot shows his true technical framework. But works, which have acquired an art history status, are also exhibited such as Walter Pichler's "TV helmet (portable living room)" (1967), Nam June Paik's "Andy Warhol Robot" (1994), or Richard Kriesche's work "A World Model" (1986). All in all, a spectrum of works is exhibited that encompasses a theme range, which, in spite of every technology, always has man as the centre point.
By Nora Theiss
Kunsthaus Graz?8020 Graz, Lendkai 1
Tel: +43/316/8017-9200
Fax: +43/316/8017-9800
E-mail: info@kunsthausgraz.at
http://www.kunsthausgraz.at
Opening hours: Tue-Sun: 10.00 a.m. -6 p.m. Thu: 10.00 a.m. – 8 p.m.
061210
Kunsthaus Graz
8020 Graz, Lendkai 1
Tel: +43/316/8017-9200, Fax: +43/316/8017-9800
Email: info@kunsthausgraz.at
http://www.kunsthausgraz.at
Öffnungszeiten: Di-So 10-18, Do 10-20 Uhr
Kunsthaus Graz
8020 Graz, Lendkai 1
Tel: +43/316/8017-9200, Fax: +43/316/8017-9800
Email: info@kunsthausgraz.at
http://www.kunsthausgraz.at
Öffnungszeiten: Di-So 10-18, Do 10-20 Uhr