2010.

sound installation

Galleri Rotor 1, Gothenburg, Sweden

A group of artists and theorists from different backgrounds and cultures were invited to discuss their ideas, thoughts and conjectures about death, its impact on life and their own work over a dinner. Guests were served a menu of his or her hypothetical last meal tailored to their specifications. The conversation was prompted by a series of questions gathered from a group of international artists whose work examines death in some form. The dinner discussion was recorded and is re-presented as a part of an installation and recreation of the dinner in Galleri Rotor 1. By organizing this dinner, opening the discussion and curating this exhibition, our intention is to bring the intimacy of this conversation on the subject of death and it’s effects on our life into a public setting.

During the dinner, artist Stefanos Tsivopoulos stated: “I think in our society, we are completely uneducated about death, there is nobody there to tell us. We are educated about sex, about how to behave, [but] no one is educating individuals about death..I think it shows a very low cultural level in how we appreciate life.” In this statement, he touches on a prominent point of the discussion, namely, how we talk about the subject of our own mortality. And furthermore, an artist comes from a unique point of view in that they often make creations that will be left behind, very material ones imbedded with concept and spirit, almost like our bodies. Artists are in a position to potentially leave a contribution greater than themselves and one that will represent them after their own death—an idea that the dinner guests attempted to reconcile in their conversation.

Perhaps an adequate parting sentiment would be the note that artist Conny Blom created for the dinner that stated: Try not to die like a dog. He explained to the guests: “It might seem harsh at first, but if you think of it, it is also an encouragement”. This spirit of encouragement became a central part of the exhibition and, subsequently, the title of the show itself.

Artists: Remi Hoven, Lars Vilks, Maja Hammarén, Lina Persson, Stefanos Tsivopoulos, Conny Blom, Annika von Hausswolff, Teemu Mäki, Iva Vraneković, Predrag Pavić, Benjamin Orlow and psychoanalyst Johan Eriksson

Curated by: Juuso Janhunen, Steven Ladoucer, Signe Winkler and Ana Zubak