What Models Can Do—A Short History of the Architectural Model in Contemporary Art
June 29–October 2014
Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen
Unteres Schloss 1
57072 Siegen
Germany
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11–18h,
Thursday 11–20h
T +0271 405 77 0
F +0271 40577 32
info [at] mgk-siegen.de
Participating artists: Absalon, Michael Ashkin, Thomas Bayrle, Peter Downsbrough, Jimmie Durham, Jean Pascal Flavien, Alicia Framis, Carlos Garaicoa, Ludger Gerdes, Dan Graham, Christian Haake, Gabu Heindl & Drehli Robnik, Matthew Day Jackson, Friederike Klotz, Langlands & Bell, Rita McBride, Isa Melsheimer, Stephan Mörsch, Sirous Namazi, Hermann Pitz, Hinrich Sachs, Michel Sauer, Thomas Schütte, Laurie Simmons & Peter Wheelwright, Charles Simonds, Stephen Willats, Elizabeth Wright, and Yin Xiuzhen
In architecture, in the decision-making and building process the three-dimensional, scaled-down architectural model serves as an instrument. It is a tool of information about planned and constructed architecture. At the same time, it can embody visions and utopias in the context of urban development. In the field of conceptually influenced contemporary art these visionary and utopian aspects are reinforced, and the model can also be implemented as a device to criticize social conditions. The art converts the model in sundry ways: It is opened up poetically and used metaphorically, even theatrically. In this context the mystical aura of smallness, onto which the viewer’s eye falls, is important. Finally, the reference to the architectural model helps developing questions pertaining to post-minimal-art sculpture.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue containing a comprehensive essay by Martin Hartung and a picture essay by Stefan Mörsch next to commented pictures of works. The catalogue will be published by the Snoeck Verlag, Cologne.
The presentation is sponsored by the Ministry for Family, Children, Youth, Culture, and Sports of the German federal state Northrhein-Westphalia.
