The Kasseler Kunstverein starts the new year with the first institutional solo exhibition in Germany of the American artist and composer Ari Benjamin Meyers.
Image above: Kasseler Kunstverein Ari Benjamin Meyers | Photo Andrea Rossetti
Until February 3rd, 2019, visitors can meet the peculiar archivist who inhabits the Kasseler Kunstverein during this period (performed by art historian Dr. Jörn Schafaff) and talk to him about the works on display.
Meyers, who has made a name for himself through pioneering border crossings between the disciplines of art, music and dance, is once again breaking new ground at the Kasseler Kunstverein.
While in 2018 Meyers transformed the Witte de With, Rotterdam’s Museum of Contemporary Art into the Kunsthalle for Music, in Kassel he transforms the premises of the Fridericianum – the world’s first museum building conceived as such – into an immersive theatre space.
In “Tacet” (Latin for silence), visitors* enter a stage rather than an exhibition space. A peculiar archivist – performed by art historian Jörn Schafaff – lives in the Kasseler Kunstverein for the duration of the exhibition. The “stage design” refers to a selection of performances by the artist.
Music, sound and movement – characteristics that otherwise define Meyers’ works are radically reduced to a minimum in Kassel. Two voices break the silence in Tacet: That of the archivist – and finally that of the visitors themselves.
Curated by Judith Waldmann.
Ari Benjamin Meyers – Tacet” at the Kasseler Kunstverein will be followed in March (01.03.-14.04. 2019) by the extensive solo exhibition “Ari Benjamin Meyers – In Concert” at the OGR – Officine Grandi Riparazioni, Turin, Italy. The exhibition in Turin is curated by Valentina Lacinio and Judith Waldmann. A publication on the cooperation project between the two institutions will be published by Corraini Edizioni, Milan, Italy. The Kasseler Kunstverein and the OGR Turin would like to thank Esther Schipper, Berlin, for their generous support.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY ARI BENJAMIN MEYERS
Ari Benjamin Meyers (*1972, New York, USA) is an artist and composer. He is the founder and artistic director of the Kunsthalle for Music.
http://www.kunsthalleformusic.org/
Ari Benjamin Meyers – Tacet” at the Kasseler Kunstverein will be followed in March (01.03.-14.04. 2019) by the extensive solo exhibition “Ari Benjamin Meyers – In Concert” at the OGR – Officine Grandi Riparazioni, Turin, Italy. The exhibition in Turin is curated by Valentina Lacinio and Judith Waldmann. A publication on the cooperation project between the two institutions will be published by Corraini Edizioni, Milan, Italy. The Kasseler Kunstverein and the OGR Turin would like to thank Esther Schipper, Berlin, for their generous support.
His works have been shown at Witte de With (Rotterdam), Spring Workshop (Hong Kong), Lenbachhaus (Munich), Hamburger Bahnhof (Berlin), Museum of Modern Art Warsaw, Martin-Gropius-Bau (Berlin), Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art and Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art.
In Kassel, Meyers already realized “This Variation” at the Hugenottenhaus for dOCUMENTA (13) with Tino Sehgal.
open: Wednesday – Sunday from 11 am – 6 pm
Kasseler Kunstverein
Fridericianum, Friedrichsplatz 18
34117 Kassel
Germany
