International, Understated
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The words Nation State means several things to me. The first is its geopolitical implications, which means an area in which the political boundaries and ethnic and cultural boundaries coincide, an example would be Japan or Korea. Its a big dream for nationalist movements.The second would be the state of the nation, it's condition. And the third would be words of the nation, what it states. This gave me a sense that the show Nation State at Goodman Cape would be a tough political South African show, perfect timing for the elections, asking some hard questions about our multi-national state and it's previous nationalist aspirations.
To my disappointment, the show took on a more global perspective, with many (excitingly) international artists. This international scope took away from what could have been a potent focussed show. The idea of nation is too broad to be tackled in a single show (how do you get around the 6 billion different ideas of what nation is, how do you avoid bias) while South Africa's state might have been more manageable. Not that a show needs to tackle all the issues or be a cohesive point to be good, but with a group show there is an expectation of a narrative or point. Perhaps, though, these are just my expectations for political work: they should be pointed, not musing.
Putting these ideas aside, there were some excellent works. Taysir Batniji's Father series of photographs was a beautiful, understated study of patriarchal rulers. Hentie Van Der Merwe's wearable red x, though a little easy was a nice vote/target pun. Doing it for Daddy's We have a plan was a poetic look at electioneering, with blank badges and flyer, and a white screen endlessly cycling current (but unattributed) political slogans. Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin's series of photos of banal objects, which on closer inspection are disguised bombs was humorously macabre. The new Zimbabwe star Kudzanai Chiurai was also around, and although his works are a little too pat for my liking, at least they seemed charged.Still, I left wishing I had been shafted a little harder.
PS. The top image (stolen from Mikhael Subotky) is a bad internet joke. I'm so sorry
posted by Robert Sloon at 12:19 PM
7 Comments:
I am surprised that you are only able to percieve of nationhood within a single context, when it is a universal notion. It may manifest in particular ways in particular settings such as South Africa but its ideological character isnt necessarily subject to that many variables. I think you may have been dissapointed by an exhibition that sought to capture notions of South Africanness - now a well-mined and trite trope.
FUCK YOU
I'M A PARTRIDGE
I agree, anonymous. Nationhood is a universal notion. But I do think it can be best unpicked through a particular manifestation. I'm not adamant on that point though, it just felt like this show fell a little short. It needed to either be broader or narrower.
Most of the works on the show, individually, were amazing. And it was an exciting selection. But in a group show one also has to focus on the overall effect, right?
Rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish. Rubbish curatorship by dullard rubbish nouveau rubbish, rubbish art, rubbish commentary. Rubbish musings by a rubbish blog editor. Rubbish exhibition title. Rubbish easily recycled rubbish photographs of rubbish. Rubbish brainless art rubbish for rubbish brainless art salespersons hocking fringy international rubbish in lean times to rubbish brained rubbishes too happy to have their rubbish collections more rubbished. Viva rubbish, viva!
And then one day you wake up, and your life is... rubbish.
rubbish shurish rubbish
Ronald Suresh Roberts
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