Fluids. A Happening by Allan Kaprow, 1967/2015

Fluids. A Happening by Allan Kaprow, 1967/2015
Versions by Olivier Guesselé-Garai,Assaf Gruber, Antje Majewski, Agnieszka Polska and
Juliane Solmsdorf; Ahmet Ögüt; Alexandra Pirici; Stadt im Regal
Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
15/16/17/18/19 September 2015
At various locations throughout Berlin
Opening: 15 September 2015, 6pm, at Neue Nationalgalerie
The Nationalgalerie is proud to present Fluids. A Happening by Allan Kaprow, 1967/2015 as part of
the co-operative project STADT/BILD (Image of a City). Four Berlin-based artists or artist groups will
present contemporary interpretations of Allan Kaprow's Happening over one week at various public
locations throughout Berlin. Additionally, a reconstruction of the original ice block structure will occur
at Neue Nationalgalerie.
Allan Kaprow (1927-2006) is one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century,
yet one of the least well known. He invented and coined the term "Happening", and continues to
provide terms of reference for many artists today. Kaprow’s objectless artistic practice has, however,
largely disappeared from the public's conscience. In 1970 Allan Kaprow spent some time in Berlin
during a DAAD artist residency. The Nationalgalerie will take this stay as an occasion to initiate
several "re-inventions" of one of his most famous Happenings, Fluids.
Fluids was first executed in California in 1967. Kaprow erected several structures from ice blocks
(roughly 9x3m large and 2,4m high) with the help of volunteers, and then left them to the elements.
The temporality and materiality of this legendary Happening as well as the involvement of the public
challenged the conventional perceptions of art in public space.
On the possible future treatment of his work, Kaprow wrote: "While there was an initial version of
Fluids, there isn’t an original or permanent work. Rather, there is an idea to do something and a
physical trace of that idea. … Fluids continues and its reinventions further multiply its meanings".
There will be four large-scale reinventions of Fluids during Berlin Art Week. The Nationalgalerie has
invited four Berlin-based artists or artist groups to react to Kaprow's action. Antje Majewski (born
1968 in Marl) will work jointly with Olivier Guesselé-Garai (born 1976 in Paris), Assaf Gruber (born
1980 in Jerusalem), Agnieszka Polska (born 1985 in Lublin) and Juliane Solmsdorf (born 1977 in
Berlin). This group is fascinated by the political activism and the participatory aspects of
Happenings. Additionally, Ahmet Ögüt (born 1981 in Diyarbakir) approaches Fluids through the
materiality and its physical and economic life cycle. Alexandra Pirici’s (born 1982 in Bucharest)
version of Fluids is inspired by the performative and corporeal nature of Kaprow’s work, as well as its
spatial impact and transience. Berlin artist collective Stadt im Regal (founded 1996) focuses on
Kaprow's intellectual universe. At various places in the city they will trigger moments of imagination
related to the respective location and its history. The question that links all these approaches: what
would Allan Kaprow be doing today?
In addition, a reconstruction of the historic work will be organised by the Nationalgalerie on
September 15, 2015. Anyone who would like to take part please contact [email protected]
(subject "Fluids"). A preparatory meeting will then take place on 17 August 2015 at 6pm.
The exhibition will take place in public space. Admission is free.
Further information about the venues and programme will be at www.kaprowinberlin.smb.museum
STADT/BILD (Image of a City) is a collaboration of Berlinische Galerie, Deutsche Bank KunstHalle,
KW Institute for Contemporary Art, and Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Initiated and
funded by the Berlin Senate, the joint project also marks the kickoff of Berlin Art Week 2015.
Brandlhuber+, Hertweck, Mayfried
The Dialogic City : Berlin wird Berlin
Curated by Dr. Thomas Köhler
16.09.2015 - 21.03.2016
Berlinische Galerie, Landesmuseum für Moderne Kunst, Fotografie und Architektur
Alte Jakobstraße 124-128
10969 Berlin
Xenopolis
Laurence Bonvin, Loris Cecchini, Theo Eshetu, Mwangi Hutter, Anri Sala, Jan-Peter E. R. Sonntag
Curated by Simon Njami
16.09. - 08.11.2015
Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle
Unter den Linden 13/15
10117 Berlin
Welcome to the Jungle
group exhibition
16.09. - 15.11.2015
Curated by Ellen Blumenstein
KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Auguststraße 69
10117 Berlin
Fluids: A Happening by Allan Kaprow, 1967/2015
During Berlin Art Week at various locations throughout Berlin
Versions by Olivier Guesselé-Garai, Assaf Gruber, Antje Majewski, Agnieszka Polska und Juliane
Solmsdorf; Ahmet Öğüt; Alexandra Pirici; Stadt im Regal
Curated by Udo Kittelmann und Lisa Marei Schmidt
Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
www.kaprowinberlin.smb.museum
STADT/BILD
Image of a City
September 16 – November 08, 2015
Opening: September 15, 2015, from 6 – 10 pm
www.stadt-bild.berlin
Press contact:
On behalf of STADT/BILD
BUREAU N
Silke Neumann, [email protected]
Gudrun Landl, [email protected]
T +49.30.62736104
www.bureau-n.de

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