Artspeak

Reception: Thursday, February 26, 2004

Klaus Scherübel examines different systems of cultural production and consumption ranging from the field of the visual arts and literature to the entertainment industry. Untitled (The Artist at Work) is an ongoing series of photographs picturing Scherübel himself in the role of the artist. The transposition of this well known genre into the

context of a conceptually working artist leads to an ironic shift of meaning which is typical for Scherübel's practice. He appears in various places such as cinemas, landscapes, and furniture stores, engaged in activities that are contrary to notions of labour based on efficiency, productivity and performance. The goal of his activities is ambiguous. Without the caption (including the name of the artist, the title, the name of the photographer) the images could be misread as illustrations for products or institutions. Untitled (The Artist at Work) presents a documentary on artistic work that is characterized by the absence of material production. The images rather show Scherübel absorbed by thoughts - emphasizing the conceptual aspect of his activity. While the content of the images seems to state a sort of emancipation of material production, the photographs - perceived from the point of view of their materiality - re-register this conceptual activity in the materialistic logic of art. In a way Scherübel questions the artistic production, its representations and its protocols of inscription in the reality of the artistic context. His conceptual interventions, using various means and strategies, always redefine the status of the artwork and the artist in relation to the framing practices of visual and written language.

During this exhibition, in collaboration with Vancouver Public Library, several special events will be presented:

February 10 - 29

Vancouver Public Library Central Branch

Fine Arts and Music Section

6th Floor

Vancouver Public Library

Central Branch, 6th Floor

350 West Georgia

Mallarmé, The Book deals with Stéphane Mallarmé's complex and until recently almost unknown world-book enterprise. The Book (Le Livre), defined by Mallarmé' (1842-1898) as the 'only' borderless achievement, is meant to be completely detached from its author. It is intended to be the result of every possible book, as the essence of all literature, but at the same time as a 'very ordinary' book. The Book is impossible to realize, yet is an accomplishment as pure concept.

Klaus Scherübel responds to the paradox posed by Mallarmé in his recent publication, Mallarmé, The Book. Scherübel has produced its cover in the proportions Mallarmé originally intended, using the modes of production and distribution of a conventional book. The Book will be presented as a promotional display copy in the Fine Arts and Music area of the Vancouver Public Library's Downtown Branch. This new English 'translation' follows on Mallarmé, Das Buch, which was published by Walther König, Cologne, in 2001, and was the subject of a number of exhibitions.

Lecture

Peter Kaye Room

Vancouver Public Library

Central Branch

Free Admission

Scherübel will present a lecture, developed as part of the Mallarmé, The Book project.

READ Bookstore

Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design

Granville Island

1399 Johnston Street

Vancouver