A complete catalogue of our work the MoMA didn’t reject
2018
Illustration, Graphic Design, 3D, Typedesign and Bookdesign
This project was developed in collaboration with
In recent February, the American author Paul Nelson Oswell wrote in recent February an essay called “times to pretend”. Therein he investigates mechanisms of a society, which rather keeps up appearances, proceeds tactically, maybe even discomfits us. Whether international politics or Instagram, “faking” is more topical than ever, no longer connected to activistic or destructive ideas and goals, but as an everyday standard. Boopa-dee Bappa-dee. In the following I will present you, kind readers, the perspective of four young artists on the subject of “fake”. Obviously without “faking” anything. Trump, Russia, possible collusion
BASTIAN HANSL “ba573” as he calls himself, born in the east-German capital of 80s rave scene, Kulmbach, Hansl creates performances, interactive art and media art. By studying sign processes, signification and communication, Hansl makes works that can be seen as self-portraits. Sometimes they appear idiosyncratic and quirky, at other times, they seem typical by-products of superabundance and another time, you’re not sure if you’re looking at a work of Hansl or Hansl himself. His performances are saturated with obviousness, mental inertia, clichés and bad jokes. They question the coerciveness that is derived from the more profound meaning and the superficial aesthetic appearance of an image or even a person. By parodying mass behavior and exaggerating certain formal aspects inherent to our contemporary society, he makes work that generates diverse meanings. Associations collide; Space becomes time and language becomes image. His works question the conditions of appearance of an image in the context of contemporary visual culture in which images, representations and ideas normally function. By applying abstraction, he creates intense non-personal moments masterfully created by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal, luring the viewer round and round in circles. His works doesn’t reference recognisable form. The results are deconstructed to the extent that meaning is shifted and possible interpretation becomes multifaceted. Bastian “ba573” Hansl currently lives and works in Bingen.