"The Kørner problem” essay by Max Andrews in the monograph "John Kørner" published by Roulette Russe
Mon, Feb 19 2018
Exhibition poster of "Altid Mange Problemer" at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Summer 2017. Photo: Latitudes.
The 280-page bilingual Danish/English monograph will be launched on March 2, 2018, at 4:30pm, in Kunsthal Charlottenborg's Apollo Kantine, though it will become available for online orders from February 26.
In his essay, Max tries to define what "The Kørner problem” (the title of the essay) might be:
(...) "The apparently ‘wicked’ problems and appalling catastrophes that interpenetrate Kørner’s works are manifold. The upsurge in jihadist terrorist activity in Europe since 2015 and its fallout are unavoidable (whether vestiges of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the Bataclan attacks in Paris, suicide bombings in Brussels and Manchester; or truck attacks in Nice, Berlin, Barcelona; rampaging attacks in London, and so on). The civil war and the rise of ISIL (ISIS, Daesh) in Syria and the exacerbating effects of climate change and mega-drought that affected the region are inescapable. The European debt and migrant crisis are here. Yet elsewhere Kørner also brings to mind what at first seem like unrelated problems: the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami and the calamity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown, human trafficking, et cetera, states of exception that seem to confirm that the problem is evermore radical, atrocious, ungrounded—more diffuse while remaining intractably real. American pop star Ariana Grande knows this as well as Kørner. Released in spring 2014, three years before the suicide bombing of her concert at Manchester Arena, her most successful single to date is titled “Problem”. We are witnessing new kinds of wicked problems and Kørner paints accordingly."
In preparation for the catalogue essay, in July 2017 Latitudes visited Kørner's impressive "Altid Mange Problemer" mid-career exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, the largest exhibition of his works to date, gathering paintings and sculptural pieces from 2004 to the present.
Max has previously written on John's work for the catalogue of his 2006 exhibition "Problems" at Victoria Miro Gallery in London.
(Above and following): Photos: Finn Wergel Dahlgren. Courtesy Roulotte Russe.
In his essay, Max tries to define what "The Kørner problem” (the title of the essay) might be:
(...) "The apparently ‘wicked’ problems and appalling catastrophes that interpenetrate Kørner’s works are manifold. The upsurge in jihadist terrorist activity in Europe since 2015 and its fallout are unavoidable (whether vestiges of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the Bataclan attacks in Paris, suicide bombings in Brussels and Manchester; or truck attacks in Nice, Berlin, Barcelona; rampaging attacks in London, and so on). The civil war and the rise of ISIL (ISIS, Daesh) in Syria and the exacerbating effects of climate change and mega-drought that affected the region are inescapable. The European debt and migrant crisis are here. Yet elsewhere Kørner also brings to mind what at first seem like unrelated problems: the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami and the calamity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown, human trafficking, et cetera, states of exception that seem to confirm that the problem is evermore radical, atrocious, ungrounded—more diffuse while remaining intractably real. American pop star Ariana Grande knows this as well as Kørner. Released in spring 2014, three years before the suicide bombing of her concert at Manchester Arena, her most successful single to date is titled “Problem”. We are witnessing new kinds of wicked problems and Kørner paints accordingly."
In preparation for the catalogue essay, in July 2017 Latitudes visited Kørner's impressive "Altid Mange Problemer" mid-career exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, the largest exhibition of his works to date, gathering paintings and sculptural pieces from 2004 to the present.
(Above and following): Photos by Latitudes.
Latitudes' first visit to Copenhagen also involved Kørner's work, as we visited his solo show 'ARoS Bank' at the ARoS Århus Kunstmuseum, Denmark (13 June–10 September 2006), which became the subject of our first blog post over a decade ago, in September 2006 (!).
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RELATED CONTENT:
- Latitudes' writing archive
- Latitudes' "out of office" 2016–2017 season 1 August 2017
- Max Andrews essay on Christopher Knowles for NoguerasBlanchard at Liste 2017 21 July 2017
- Mariana Cánepa Luna reviews Ana Jotta’s “Abans que me n’oblidi (Before I forget)” exhibition in art-agenda 11 November 2016
- '2006 Problems' exhibition and publication by John Kørner, Victoria Miro Gallery, London 29 November 2006
- Copenhagen trip. 'Woman with 24 problems' by John Kørner 30 September 2006
Launch of the monograph 'Lara Almarcegui. Projects 1995–2010', edited by Latitudes at 'The Dutch Assembly', ARCOmadrid, 15 February, 19-20h
Tue, Feb 14 2012
Cover of the monograph edited by Latitudes. Photo: Latitudes.
Editor: Latitudes
Publisher & Design: Archive Books, Berlin
Texts: Cuauhtémoc Medina, Lars Bang Larsen and Latitudes
Format: 224 pages, colour, 21 x 27.5 cm. Black-and-white and colour illustrations. Flexicover, English.
ISBN: 978-88-95702-05-6
Published by Berlin-based Archive Books, 'Lara Almarcegui. Projects 1995–2010' is the first monograph presenting an overview of the last fifteen years of Almarcegui's artistic practice. The main part of the publication is formed by detailed documentation of the artist’s works and publications companioned by new descriptive texts written by the editors and the artist. These are presented in the following sections: ‘Demolition’, ‘Excavation’, ‘Construction materials’, ‘Ruins’, ‘Wastelands’ (survey, access, and preservation). (+ info...)
Lara Almarcegui (1972, Zaragoza. Lives and works in Rotterdam, the Netherlands) has had solo shows at Künstlerhaus Bremen, Bremen (2011); Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, Sevilla (2011); TENT, Rotterdam (2011); Secession, Vienna (2010); Ludlow 38, New York (2010); the Centro Arte Contemporaneo, Málaga (2007), FRAC Bourgogne, Dijon (2004) and at INDEX, Stockholm (2003). She participated in group exhibitions such as Radical Nature – Art & Architecture for a Changing Planet 1969-2009, Barbican, London (2009); Taipei Art Biennial, Taiwan (2008); Estratos, Murcia (2008); Sharjah Art Biennial 8, Sharjah (2007); 27th São Paulo Bienal, São Paulo (2006); Frieze Art Fair Projects, London (2006) and the Liverpool Biennial (2004). In 2008 she presented the guidebook 'Ruins in the Netherlands XIX-XXI' published by Episode. Almarcegui studied Fine Arts in Cuenca (1991–95) and at the Ateliers 63, Amsterdam (1996–98). She has recently been awarded the Dolf Henkes Prize, Rotterdam (2011). In 2012 Almarcegui will have solo shows at the Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Móstoles and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC).
Spreads of the publication:
The publication has been possible thanks to the support of the former Fonds BKVB (Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture), currently Mondriaan Fund.
All photos: Latitudes | www.lttds.org (except when noted otherwise in the photo caption)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
All photos: Latitudes | www.lttds.org (except when noted otherwise in the photo caption)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Photos 'In conversation with Lara Almarcegui', 19 May 2011, TENT, Rotterdam
Mon, Jun 6 2011
'An evening with Lara Almarcegui', TENT Rotterdam, 2011. Photos: Aad Hoogendoorn.
On Thursday 19 May, Latitudes hosted an in conversation with Zaragoza-born, Rotterdam-based Lara Almarcegui in TENT, where she currently has a solo show (until 26 June).
Manifesta 9 curator, art historian and essayist for the catalogue, Cuauhtémoc Medina, also joined reading some of the passages of his essay 'Lara Almarcegui and the freedom of the unplanned' which will be included in the forthcoming monograph of the artist published by Archive Books and edited by Latitudes.
During the event Latitudes showed 60 images of Almarcegui's recent work, discussed her TENT exhibition, showed draft pages of the forthcoming publication and shared a selection of questions sent by curators, gallerist, artists, colleagues and collaborators of Almarcegui, giving an opportunity to revisit some of her projects produced since 1995.
These included questions from Bik van der Pol, Ellen de Bruijne, Claire Doherty, Eva González-Sancho, Lars Bang Larsen, Pablo León de la Barra, Francesco Manacorda, Markus Miessen, Eva Scharrer, Hans Schabus and Manuel Segade.
Thank you to those who joined us and to those who participated from afar with their questions.
Manifesta 9 curator, art historian and essayist for the catalogue, Cuauhtémoc Medina, also joined reading some of the passages of his essay 'Lara Almarcegui and the freedom of the unplanned' which will be included in the forthcoming monograph of the artist published by Archive Books and edited by Latitudes.
During the event Latitudes showed 60 images of Almarcegui's recent work, discussed her TENT exhibition, showed draft pages of the forthcoming publication and shared a selection of questions sent by curators, gallerist, artists, colleagues and collaborators of Almarcegui, giving an opportunity to revisit some of her projects produced since 1995.
These included questions from Bik van der Pol, Ellen de Bruijne, Claire Doherty, Eva González-Sancho, Lars Bang Larsen, Pablo León de la Barra, Francesco Manacorda, Markus Miessen, Eva Scharrer, Hans Schabus and Manuel Segade.
Thank you to those who joined us and to those who participated from afar with their questions.
19 May, 20h: 'An evening with Lara Almarcegui', TENT, Rotterdam
Thu, May 5 2011
Several guides by Lara Almarcegui. Photo: Latitudes | www.lttds.orgOn the occasion of Lara Almarcegui's solo show at TENT, Rotterdam (opening tomorrow 6 May and on view until 26 June 2011), Latitudes' will host an in conversation on May 19 (20h) with the Spanish-born Rotterdam-based artist to discuss their long-term collaboration as well as the editing process of the forthcoming monograph 'Lara Almarcegui. Projects 1995-2010'. (+ info...)
Manifesta 9 curator, art historian and essayist for the catalogue, Cuauhtémoc Medina, will also participate reading some of the passages of his essay 'Lara Almarcegui and the freedom of the unplanned' during the evening.
During the event Latitudes will also bring forward a selection of questions posed by curators, gallerist, artists, colleagues and collaborators of Almarcegui, giving an opportunity to revisit some of her projects produced since 1995 – see photos event.
Title: 'Lara Almarcegui: Projects 1995–2010'
Editor: Latitudes
Publish & Design: Archive Books, Berlin
Texts: Cuauhtémoc Medina, Lars Bang Larsen and Latitudes
224 pages, colour, 21 x 27.5 cm. Black-and-white and colour illustrations. Flexicover, English.
Print run: 2,500 copies
ISBN: 978-88-95702-05-6
Release date: Fall 2011
Cover price: € 35
Publication possible thanks to the support of the Fonds BKVB (Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture).Editing the forthcoming publication 'Lara Almarcegui. Projects 1995–2010'
Fri, Mar 18 2011
Mock up of the publication cover.
We are currently in the process of editing the first and most comprehensive monograph to date of Lara Almarcegui's work produced in the last fifteen years. Although Almarcegui has made many small format guidebooks as integral parts of her projects, this will be the first monograph presenting an overview of all of her artistic practice.
The main part of the publication is formed by detailed documentation of the artist’s works and publications companioned by new descriptive texts written by the editors. These are presented in the following sections: ‘Demolition’, ‘Excavation’, ‘Construction materials’, ‘Ruins’, ‘Wastelands’ (survey, access, and preservation).
Alongside an introductory essay by the editors, art critic, curator and art historian Cuauhtémoc Medina and the theorist and curator Lars Bang Larsen contribute texts. Medina presents a revised and updated version of a previously unpublished essay entitled ‘The beauty of open space: Lara Almarcegui and the freedom of the unplanned’. The essay involves an analysis of the ‘aesthetic tautology’ of the 17th-century English garden – ‘a field turned into a garden which is made to seem like a field’ – and develops a context for Almarcegui’s work through a partial history of man’s ‘perfection’ of nature, and more especially the concept of nature as coincidental with the origin of industrial modernity. Lars Bang Larsen offers an interpretation of a single work from the artist’s ‘Construction materials’ series: 'Construction materials, City of São Paulo' (2006). Based on a talk given by the author at the Creative Time Summit: Revolutions in Public Space, New York, October 2009, Bang Larsen argues that “Almarcegui’s work equips us with the hubris to reconceive of the city and evaluate and re-organise it as a social space”.
The main part of the publication is formed by detailed documentation of the artist’s works and publications companioned by new descriptive texts written by the editors. These are presented in the following sections: ‘Demolition’, ‘Excavation’, ‘Construction materials’, ‘Ruins’, ‘Wastelands’ (survey, access, and preservation).
Alongside an introductory essay by the editors, art critic, curator and art historian Cuauhtémoc Medina and the theorist and curator Lars Bang Larsen contribute texts. Medina presents a revised and updated version of a previously unpublished essay entitled ‘The beauty of open space: Lara Almarcegui and the freedom of the unplanned’. The essay involves an analysis of the ‘aesthetic tautology’ of the 17th-century English garden – ‘a field turned into a garden which is made to seem like a field’ – and develops a context for Almarcegui’s work through a partial history of man’s ‘perfection’ of nature, and more especially the concept of nature as coincidental with the origin of industrial modernity. Lars Bang Larsen offers an interpretation of a single work from the artist’s ‘Construction materials’ series: 'Construction materials, City of São Paulo' (2006). Based on a talk given by the author at the Creative Time Summit: Revolutions in Public Space, New York, October 2009, Bang Larsen argues that “Almarcegui’s work equips us with the hubris to reconceive of the city and evaluate and re-organise it as a social space”.
Coinciding with Almarcegui's solo show at TENT, Rotterdam, Latitudes' will host an in conversation with the Spanish-born Rotterdam-based artist and discuss the process of editing the monograph. During the event, Latitudes will also bring forward a selection of questions posed to curators, gallerist, artists, colleagues and collaborators of Almarcegui, giving an opportunity to revisit some of her projects produced since 1995.
Title: 'Lara Almarcegui: Projects 1995–2010'
Editor: Latitudes
Publish & Design: Archive Books, Berlin
Texts: Cuauhtémoc Medina, Lars Bang Larsen and Latitudes
224 pages, colour, 21 x 27.5 cm. Black-and-white and colour illustrations. Flexicover, English.
Print run: 2,500 copies
ISBN: 978-88-95702-05-6
Release date: Spring/Summer 2011
Cover price: € 35
Publication possible thanks to the support of the Fonds BKVB (Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture).
All photos: Latitudes | www.lttds.org
Installation views of 'Christina Hemauer | Roman Keller: United Alternative Energies', Århus Art Building, Århus, Denmark, until 3 April 2011
Sun, Jan 23 2011
Above and below: Installation view. Photo: Jens Møller Sørensen. Courtesy the artists.
—> Slideshow of the exhibition.
Hemauer | Keller has investigated the concept of energy for several years. One of their main areas of interest is the history of oil and its competing alternatives, notably solar energy. Often involving historical research, remembrance, performance and film, their projects focus in particular on the politics of oil, energy crises, and the pursuit of new technology. (+ info...)
A 36 full-colour page booklet can be purchased from the Århus Art Building for 35 DKK (aprox. €4,70). Exhibition remains on view until 3 April 2011.
Photos and texts accompanying images: Latitudes | www.lttds.org
The Bookmakers Ed. presents IN-SCAPE series
Sat, Sep 8 2007
Edited by Luca Andriolo
Authors: Lillian Davies, Mario Diacono, Kathy Grayson, Norma Mangione, Bob Nickas
Edition English
October 2007
ISBN 978-88-95702-00-1
Hardcover, 21 x 26 cm – 288 pages
On the 6th September, The Bookmakers Ed. presented 'Kent Henricksen: A season of delight', the first volume of IN-SCAPE, a series devoted to young talents emerging in the contemporary art world. The publication was launched in New York coinciding with 'Divine Deviltries', the artist's exhibition at John Connelly Presents gallery on view until October 6, 2007.
This monograph explores Kent Henricksen's imagery and art-practice: writer and gallerist Mario Diacono analyzes Henricksen's work in the context of contemporary art, whilst writer Lillian Davies offers the reader an essay about violence within the artist's imagery. To complete the volume are an in-depth interview with writer and curator Bob Nickas and a conversation between curator Kathy Grayson and the artist.