“Portikus Under Construction” at Tanya Leighton
Artists: Helke Bayrle, John Ahearn, Thomas Bayrle, On Kawara, Allan McCollum, Thomas Schütte
Venue: Tanya Leighton, Berlin
Exhibition Title: Portikus Under Construction
Curated by: Patrick Armstrong
Date: July 13 – August 31, 2013
Full gallery of video, images, press release and link available after the jump.
Video:
Helke Bayrle, excerpts from Portikus Under Construction, 1993–present. 137 videos. Courtesy of the artist.
Images:
- On Kawara
- John Ahearn
- Allan McCollum
- Helke Bayrle
Images courtesy of Tanya Leighton, Berlin
Press Release:
Portikus Under Construction finds its center around Helke Bayrle’s ongoing video project of the same name. Bayrle — who lives and works in Frankfurt — has been faithfully documenting each exhibition at Portikus since 1992. Her videos, now numbering 137 and steadily climbing, are unique in their short duration and noticeable intimacy. These short videos picture artists in the days and hours leading up to the opening of their exhibition — unpacking their works, interacting with curators and art handlers, and ultimately celebrating their efforts at the show’s opening. Seen collectively, these portraits begin to describe the ongoing mission of Portikus and its importance not only as a progressive exhibition venue, but also as a hub of interaction between students, curators, artists, and the public.
Bayrle’s videos are accompanied by a selection of artworks by John Ahearn, Thomas Bayrle, On Kawara, Allan McCollum, and Thomas Schütte, as well as ephemera from the archives of Portikus, friends, and former staff members.