„Der Künstler, hat Georg Seeßlen jüngst in einer Laudatio auf Schlingensief gesagt, sei ein Mensch, der Dinge tut, die ihm vollkommen entsprechen. Das stimmt. Die Frage ist nur, ob das, was dem Operndorf-Begründer und Lungenkrebspatienten Schlingensief entspricht, auch andere etwas angeht. Und ob seine Kunst Kunst genug ist, stark genug, poetisch und reich genug, dass diese anderen sich ein eigenes Bild machen, von sich und ihren Todesängsten, ihren Träumen.“
(Christine Lemke-Matwey, Tagesspiegel, May 17, 2010, p. 23)
Apropos Schlingensief's installation INNOCENCE 1965-2008 at the de Appel arts center in Amsterdam in Spring 2008, I wrote last fall:
„Let's chain the artwork to the artist and behold another therapeutic session...“
I did not answer the question, but merely rephrase it. The question being, again, Is his art art enough, is it strong enough, poetic enough to be more than sheer self-medication, more than a publicly exercised therapy session which does not have to, can't, won't be of anybody's concern because, not only in the end but from the very beginning, he is only talking to himself?
„...standing in front of the triptych, I could only gasp and utter Oh my God. Oh my God. This is pathetic. So it is then, truly is. Oh my God. For here, Schlingensief's insistence on the reality of the possession by one's own biography [...] has been turned into the insistence on the reality of the possession by one's own tumorous biology, leaving behind the exorcism's inherent oscillation between authenticity and spectacle, as its circular folly can once and for all be dissolved into a confirmed medical diagnosis – memento cancri.”
(CINE QUA NON #1, fall 2009, p. 14f.)
Did I imply no? Not art enough?
(CINE QUA NON #1, fall 2009, p. 14f.)
Did I imply no? Not art enough?
- - -
Later on, I did say yes, stubbornly. Yes strong enough, poetic enough, and I turned to my own therapeutic session. Its every frame an act of self-medication or an imitation thereof, intoxicating enough, I save myself.
Stills from EXORCISM OF THE LAST GAME I EVER PLAYED (D 2009, 10')
- - -
Last night on the phone, talking capitalism with my father, he is as agitated as I am. We are both shouting, then he says I should cancel that paper subscription. I say This is all so wrong, he says Why vote for one when you can start a party, I mumble uh huh.
Not enough, not nearly enough.
- - -
Last night on the phone, talking capitalism with my father, he is as agitated as I am. We are both shouting, then he says I should cancel that paper subscription. I say This is all so wrong, he says Why vote for one when you can start a party, I mumble uh huh.
Not enough, not nearly enough.
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