The Value of Freedom

The concept of freedom is constantly changing. This exhibition charts its psychological, cultural, religious, political and legal evolution against the backdrop of historical developments, to arrive at a contemporary understanding of what freedom means. Works by more than 50 artists shed light on this complex issue from various angles.

With its various overlapping themes, this exhibition weaves a tapestry of interdependencies and reciprocal influences. A central section is devoted to the fundamental essence of freedom. Another zone addresses democracy and the various forms of government that define the structures of coexistence. A series of exhibits deals with the restrictions to freedom through surveillance, control and censorship. Phenomena from the public space are juxtaposed to aspects and mechanisms of social media. And the power of knowledge comes up against the impotence of disinformation. Another section explores forms of subjectivization and emancipation strategies. Equally, new imperatives of identity politics are critically examined. Freedom is also addressed in its economic context: does the constant increase in productivity through self-optimization truly promise greater freedom? Freedom is to be found between the twin poles of individual and society, democracy and economy, work and leisure time, the physical and intellectual, nature and culture—and it does not prove to be a quantity set by some natural law but instead a property that has to be constantly renegotiated.

With works by Zbynĕk Baladrán, Dara Birnbaum, Jordi Colomer, Carola Dertnig, Center for Political Beauty, Simon Dybbroe Møller, Harun Farocki, Karin Ferrari, Forensic Oceanography, John Gerrard, Johannes Gierlinger, Lola Gonzàlez, Johan Grimonprez, Igor Grubić, Eva Grubinger, Marlene Haring, Hiwa K, Leon Kahane, Šejla Kamerić, Alexander Kluge, Nina Könnemann, Laibach, Lars Laumann, Luiza Margan, Teresa Margolles, Isabella Celeste Maund, Anna Meyer, Aernout Mik, Matthias Noggler, Josip Novosel, Julian Oliver, Trevor Paglen, Christodoulos Panayiotou, Ivan Pardo, Oliver Ressler, Lili Reynaud-Dewar, Ashley Hans Scheirl, Christoph Schlingensief, Andreas Siekmann, Eva Stefani, Superflex, Pilvi Takala, Philipp Timischl, Milica Tomić, Betty Tompkins, Amalia Ulman, Kostis Velonis, Kara Walker, Stephen Willats, Anna Witt, Hannes Zebedin, Tobias Zielony and Artur Żmijeweski.

Curator: Severin Dünser

Catalogue
An illustrated catalogue with texts by Severin Dünser, Scott Jordan, Oliver Marchart, Elżbieta Matynia and Stella Rollig will accompany the exhibition.

Press contact: Irene Jäger / presse21@belvedere.at / T +43 1 79 557-185
Press material: www.belvedere21.at (texts, images, and films for download under PRESS)