Abstrakte Merde (2023)

Chalk paint, wood, perspex, LED panel

 

Abstrakte Merde (Abstract Shit) was a site specific performance and installation that took place at a gallery art space at the Alterschlacthof in Karlsruhe, Germany. On the outside of the building the words ABSTRAKTE MERDE were graffitied on this historic graded building. Looking through the windows, on the inside, an installation appears to a recreate the reflection of sunlight of the graffitied window. The project blended with the surroundings of other buildings in the area that had poor quality sprayed tagging. 

 

The abstract was an important idea behind this project. On the one hand, abstract art has been increasingly sidelined as irrelevant, without serving any useful purpose as contemporary curators place greater value on function, material and issues based subject matter. On the other hand, the abstract as a concept is what lies hidden, behind the scenes. We have to look closely through the window to see where it is. As more of the things that profoundly influence our lives become abstractified, we invent new materialised realities to help stay in touch with a more physical dimension.