Eugen Gomringer &
August 29–October 25, 2015
Opening: Friday, August 28, 7pm
Symposium: Saturday, August 29, noon–midnight
Bielefelder Kunstverein
im Waldhof
Welle 61
D-33602 Bielefeld
Germany
www.bielefelder-kunstverein.de
From August 29 to October 25, the Bielefelder Kunstverein is presenting the group exhibition Eugen Gomringer &, with contributions by Eugen Gomringer, Ann Cotten, Natalie Czech, Kenneth Goldsmith & John Ashbery, James Hoff, Karl Holmqvist, Sophia Le Fraga, Tan Lin, Hanne Lippard, Nils Menrad, Michalis Pichler and Cia Rinne. Furthermore, an accompanying symposium investigates the current interest in concrete poetry.
On the occasion of Eugen Gomringer’s 90th birthday, and set against the background of his life’s work, the Bielefelder Kunstverein organized an extended exhibition with the internationally renowned artist under the title of Eugen Gomringer &. Gomringer is reputed to be the “father of concrete poetry.” His first book, konstellationen (constellations) (1953), written in four languages, and his essay, “vom vers zur konstellation” (from line to constellation), form the movement’s foundations. Working with Dieter Roth and Marcel Wyss as a co-editor of Spirale. Internationale Zeitschrift für Konkrete Kunst und Gestaltung (Spiral. International Journal for Concrete Art and Design) from 1953 onwards, Gomringer has been an international trailblazer in his field since the early 1950s.
Considering both the current interest in poetry and language shown by contemporary art and the increased importance of the word in short messages and digital communication networks, it does appear important to engage with the historic development of visual poetry, and with Gomringer’s person in particular. With his work as its point of departure, the exhibition brings together contemporary artists and poets to focus on the topicality of language and text in artistic creativity. It deals with concrete tendencies of the 20th century as well as with the digital impact on production and forms of contemporary poetry. In this process, words play a central role as visual-graphic and phonetic elements, together with their (im)materiality and mediality, as well as poetic constellations of linguistic elements. Alongside essential works and archival material by Eugen Gomringer, the exhibition presents numerous new productions by artists and poets alike, including texts, audio pieces, objects, paintings, photographs, videos, publications and installations. Neither the exhibition nor the symposium undertake any literary or art-historical categorisation, instead locating Gomringer’s approach in an active dialogue involving the present while pointing to the future.
Curator: Thomas Thiel
The “New Concrete Poetry” symposium
Saturday, August 29, noon–midnight
The symposium “New Concrete Poetry” features a discussion, lectures, readings and live performances by the participating artists and further guests.
Location: Bielefelder Kunstverein, Welle 61, 33602 Bielefeld
Noon
Introduction by Thomas Thiel
Lecture by Eugen Gomringer
3pm
Reading and performance by Hanne Lippard, Sophia Le Fraga and Karl Holmqvist
4pm
Reading and lecture by Cia Rinne and Michalis Pichler
5pm
Roundtable discussion with Eugen Gomringer, Hanne Lippard, Sophia Le Fraga, Karl Holmqvist, Cia Rinne, Michalis Pichler, Steven Warwick and Thomas Thiel
Location: Nr. z. P., Große-Kurfürsten-Straße 81, 33615 Bielefeld
10pm
Performances by Michalis Pichler, Luci Lippard, Steven Warwick
Midnight
Heatsick, DJ set
Due to limited access your reservation via email or Fax (+49 521 178810) is requested.
Organized in cooperation with Nr. z. P.
Exhibition support
The exhibitions are kindly supported by Kunststiftung NRW and Wilhelm Böllhoff GmbH & Co. KG.
Publication
To mark the exhibition, a 40-page brochure was published (German/English).
Next exhibition at Bielefelder Kunstverein in 2015:
Transparencies
November 7, 2015–January 17, 2016
Transparencies is concerned with the cultural facets and atmospheres of (non-)transparency. It has gathered together international artists, who are engaging with this current paradigm of transparency and the ambivalence of the concept on a range of levels.
Press
For press requests, please send us an email via kontakt [at] bielefelder-kunstverein.de or call us at +49 521 17 88 06. High-resolution press images and programs can be downloaded from our website.
