translated and summarized by: Liz Wollner-Grandville,
230412: Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz Car Culture
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
Car Culture
02.03.2012 – 04.07.2012
Parked and ready for the museum?
By Stephan Maier
It appears somewhat lost, as if it had been ordered and was then simply parked badly, the right hand-drive of Alicja Kwade's "Nissan (Parallel World 1 + 2)": The other half of the identically-mirrored car couple – demolished by a lunatic from the young Linz coma drinkers' scene and filmed by a mobile phone camera - is meanwhile waiting in a workshop to be reunited. Which is more than unfortunate and not a good prelude for the artistic car salon "Car Culture" in Linz's Lentos Museum.
Conceived by Peter Weibel, Karlsruhe ZKM, the exhibition appears to be thought out on a low level of ideas and execution. Where at an earlier time "Media and Mobility" was sworn, one has now lapsed into the clichéd phrase of "Car as Sculpture". The symbolized figure of motorised movement has been reduced to the formalities between body and bonnet, or also: what artists think up on the theme "in the blink of an eye" (press text).
The paint on the floor of the exhibition hall has at least partially disappeared, mainly due to the numerous presentations that have taken place here. But this does the overall impression of the show good, and lends an indeterminate charm of skittish parking in unkempt back yards. Instead of the "flamboyant coach" from the experimental laboratories of the world champions (Elmgreen & Dragset or John Chamberlain), there is an unusual regional connection in Linz which then leads to just as many incomprehensible multiple nominations. Thus, Hannes Langeder is somewhat over-represented with two of his, at best, peculiar deceleration vehicles.
Conversely, the female quota is maintained – at least in terms of figures. In addition to the zealous work by Michaela Mélian, it (would have been) above all, that of Alicja Kwade, whose "Car Culture" on the hydraulic ramp would have really led to discussion. Her automobile duo – both Nissans are driven by herself and her partner, Gregor Hildebrandt, mirrors the scuffed left and right mudguards in a completely different parallel universe to real life: love, whose loopholes and injuries revolve around a rubbish-strewn inner life.
On an ad hoc visit to the exhibition, this all leaves an impression of a rather weak performance. And also Franz Ackermann's sculpture of a VW poised for flight from the fantastic world of the RAF hangs feebly from the lobby ceiling - such a pity.
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
4020 Linz, Ernst-Koref-Promendade 1
Tel: +43 70 7070 36 00
email: info@lentos.at
http://www.lentos.at
Opening hours: Every day except Mon from 10-18 hours, Thu: 10 - 21 hours
230412
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
4020 Linz, Ernst-Koref-Promendade 1
Tel: +43 70 7070 36 00
Email: info@lentos.at
http://www.lentos.at
Öffnungszeiten: täglich außer Mo 10-18 Uhr, Do 10-21 Uhr
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
4020 Linz, Ernst-Koref-Promendade 1
Tel: +43 70 7070 36 00
Email: info@lentos.at
http://www.lentos.at
Öffnungszeiten: täglich außer Mo 10-18 Uhr, Do 10-21 Uhr