International Monkey Business. Nina Staehli & Ale Thornton

Nina Staehli & Ale Thornton International Monkey Business Nina Staehli (CH) & Ale Thornton (ARG) October 22-30, 2015 Schauraum Gibraltarstrasse 9 6003 - Luzern International Monkey Business Nina Staehli (CH) Ale Thornton (ARG) OCTOBER 2015 Lucerne International Monkey Business An exhibition by Nina Staehli (CH) and Alejandro Thornton (ARG) Monkey Business (1931) The Marx Brothers sneak onto a ship from Europe to America as stowaways. While they're busy hiding from the crew, they get mixed up in a conflict between rival gangsters Big Joe Helton and Alky Briggs. Groucho and Zeppo are supposed to help Briggs rid himself of Helton while Harpo and Chico are enlisted as Helton's bodyguards. After the ship arrives in New York, Helton throws a party for his daughter Mary. Outside on the terrace, Briggs explains to Groucho his plan to blackmail Helton by kidnapping Mary. But, while on board, Zeppo fell in love with Mary and Groucho tried to get with Briggs's wife Lucille. In the end the brothers manage to set Mary free. (Source: Wikipedia) Art is, in the broadest sense, an indeterminate amount of confusion. Academics and laymen then extrapolate from it questions, meanings or functions for all levels of society. And this happens with such an unwavering matter-of-factness and self-confidence that art – according to this romanticized view – comes across to the confused audience as a clear-cut concept on the horizon. Put into a different context, the International Monkey Business exhibition can also be seen as persiflage. Contemporary artists are economically savvy and trained to fit into the capitalist value system because the little money is only to be made in complete assimilation. In this sense, the artist knowingly turns himself into the monkey or dancing bear of a standardized society. Indeed, the antenna of art makers and the art system, have gotten so nuanced and sophisticated that the paying mainstream's needs, trends and innovations are justly and gallantly turned into works of art. And so the merry-go-round of art stars and starlets keeps on spinning cheerfully while edgy, evocative and abrasive art – which could help us better understand this world – falls by the wayside. The International Monkey Business exhibition offers viewers a thoughtful and ironic view of these issues, negotiating the value of art in a system replete with marketing, promotions and glamour. x0_0x c0X0c cx_xc Alejandro Thornton and Nina Staehli International Monkey Business eine Ausstellung von Nina Staehli (CH) und Alejandro Thornton (ARG) Monkey Business (1931) Die Marx Brothers versuchen, als blinde Passagiere auf einem Schiff von Europa nach Amerika zu gelangen. Dabeigeraten sie auf ihrer Flucht vor der Schiffscrew in eine Auseinandersetzung zwischen den beiden rivalisierenden Gangstern Big Joe Helton und Alky Briggs. Groucho und Zeppo sollen auf der einen Seite Briggs helfen, mit Helton fertig zu werden, während Harpo und Chico auf der anderen Seite als dessen Bodyguards angeheuert werden. Nach der Ankunft in New York gibt Helton f ?r seine Tochter Mary eine Party. Briggs weiht dabei auf der Terrasse Groucho in seinen Plan ein, Mary zu entf?hren, um ihren Vater zu erpressen. Dabei hat sich Zeppo auf der Passage in Mary verliebt und Groucho versucht, bei der Frau von Briggs Lucille zu landen. Schlie?lich gelingt es den Br ?dern, Mary zu befreien. (Quelle: Wikipedia) Die Kunst ist im weitesten Sinne eine undefinierte Menge an Verwirrung. Dann leiten Akademiker oder Laien daraus willk?rlich Fragen, Bedeutungen oder Funktionen f?r alle gesellschaftlichen Ebenen ab. Dies geschieht mit so einer unersch ?tterlichen Selbstverst ?ndlichkeit und Selbstsicherheit, dass dem verwirrten Publikum- nach dieser Verkl?rung- die Kunst als klares Konzept am Horizont erscheint. In einem anderen Kontext kann die Ausstellung International Monkey Business auch als eine Persiflage verstanden werden. Zeitgen?ssische K?nstler und K?nstlerinnen sind ?konomisch geschliffen und darauf trainiert sich in das kapitalistische Wertesystem einzupassen, denn nur in der totalen Assimilation l?sst sich das wenige Geld verdienen. In diesen Sinne macht sich der K?nstler bewusst zum Affen oder Tanzb ?r einer genormten Gesellschaft. Und die Sensoren der Kunstproduzenten bzw. der Kunstsystems sind mittlerweile so fein eingestellt, dass Bed?rfnisse,Trends und Innovationen der zahlenden Mitte just und galant in Kunstwerke umgem?nzt werden. So dreht sich das Karussell der Kunst-Stars und Sternchen munter weiter und auf der Strecke bleibt die eckige, aufr ?ttelnde und kratzige Kunst, welche uns helfen k ?nnte diese Welt besser zu verstehen. Die Werkschau International Monkey Business bietet einen durchdachten und ironischen Blick zu diesen Themen. Verhandelt wird der Wert der Kunst in einem System voller Marketing, Promotion und Glamour. x0_0x c0X0c cx_xc Alejandro Thornton and Nina Staehli work in collaboration (32 silkscreen operated by the artists) “My home your home” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Do the monkey and have fun” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “To be perfect” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Non title” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Don´t think about the ass holes” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Monkeys can make a lot of noise” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “We forget the money” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Boys and girls” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “First problem” silkscreen and letterpress and 1/2 swiss franc on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Bild und Gleichnis” silkscreen, collage and letterpress on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “ Monkey Business Art Institut” silkscreen and letterpress on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “How much is too much” silkscreen and ink on paper 35x50cm. 2015 “Don´t think about the ass holes” silkscreen and cuts 35x50cm. 2015 Details “Monkey Business Flag” silkscreen on textil 150x200cm. 2015 Solo works Nina Staehli “Glory Scapes” View of the instalation furs of “Glory Scapes” different animals on wall, 2014 Nina Staehli “Glory Scapes” furs of animal on wall, 2014 Nina Staehli “Monkeys don´t need this” installation outside the gallery 300x550cm. 2015 “International Monkey Business” View of gallery Ale Thornton “Creative process” plastic bag, beer tabs and pencil. 2015 Ale Thornton “For and exhibition in Berlin” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The no egos exhibition” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The too much ego exhibition” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The Curator choice” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The lovers choice” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “Vorprojekt #1 collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “Vorprojekt #3” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “Vorprojekt #2 collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The lovers choice” collage and pencil on paper 30x40cm. 2015 “The monkeys are coming” collage on paper 20x30cm. 2015 “Muy bonito” collage on paper 20x30cm. 2015 Monkey things “Tail or tale” Mixed media on paper bag 50x150cm. 2015 “Monkey or not your choice” Mixed media on paper bag 50x120cm. 2015 “Portrait (street art style)” Mixed media on paper bag 50x150cm. 2015 Editions “International monkey business” Silkscreen, edition of 25 35x50cm. 2015 “International monkey business” Pink silkscreen, edition of 5 35x50cm. 2015 “International monkey business” 3-D silkscreen special edition of 3 35x50cm. 2015 “Chain of favors” silkscreen in 3 colours edition of 4 35x50cm. 2015 Bio Lives and works in Lucerne and Berlin. Residences: Artist in residence, Kansas City Artists Coalition, USA. - 2014 Artist in residence, ORF III, Vienna – 2013 Studio stay, Foundry Sitterwerk, St.Gallen - 2011 Awards (seletion): FLEX residency USA, awarded by the Canton of Zug Cultural Award of the City of Cham ORF III Erna & Curt Burgauer Stiftung Swiss Institute for Art and Research MIGROS Kulturprozent Ernst Goehner Foundation Georges & Jenny Bloch Foundation NINA STAEHLI www.ninastaehli.ch Last Solo Shows: “Glory Land”, Heidmann Art Salon, Kansas City - 2015 “Glory Land”, gallery Isabelle Gabrijel, Berlin - 2015 “Gloria’s & touching heroes”, Cecilia Trachsler gallery, Zurich - 2113 “Head Download” Kunsthalle Luzern - 2013 “Processione”, galleria studio 44, Genoa - 2011 “Ruby Dean and The White Silence”, gallery Billing, Zug - 2011 Last Collective Shows: Did your dreams come from a dark place?, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin IMAGO MUNDI, Fondazione Cini, Venice Arte per L’Arte, Museo di Sant’Agostino, Genoa VOEGELE Cultural Center, “Heller Wahnsinn”, Pfaeffikon, Switzerland YESTERDAY-TOMORROW, gallery Weiertal, Winterthur Segrete – Tracce di Memoria, Palazzo Ducale, Genoa Art Festival Kunstpause, installation “Culture Clash”, Zug EXSTASI, Studios ID, Berlin Animations, art space Sihlquai 55, Zurich “ViaZug” – Haus Zentrum of the City of Zug “A nos amours” - gallery kh15, Berlin Last public interventions & performances: “Casa Paradiso“, Zurich - 2015 “TearHead“, 21C Museum, Bentonville, Arkansas/USA - 2014 “The Holy Pig of Berlin in Basle”, Open Church Elisabethen, Basel – 2014 2013 30 minutes television experimental art film and performance, ORF III, Vienna - 2013 “The Last Supper”, Substitut– space for contemporary art from Switzerland, Berlin - 2012 Lives and works in Buenos Aires. Residences: 2015 - Kosmos Kultur Foundation (Berlin-Lucerna, Switzerland ). 2014 - Kansas City Artist Residency at KCAC (Kansas City, USA). 2013 - Artist in Residency International Program, Ace Foundation (Buenos Aires). Awards (seletion): 2013 - First Price for Videoart, Bahia Blanca National Biennial. - Third Prize National Award for Painting, Uade Art Institute. Bs. As. 2012 - SiTA National Award for Public Space Interventions, Tucumán. 2010 - Engrav Mention, LV Salón Municipal Manuel Belgrano, Museo Sivori, Bs. As. Video-art Festivals : 2015 - Fonland Festival (Lisboa, Portugal) 2014 - Hidden Rooms, International Festival of Video Art Palazzo, Ca’ Zanardi, Venice. 2014 - VideoBardo, V International Video Poetry Festival, Buenos Aires. 2014 - Play Festival, The Video Art Week. Litoral University. Corrientes. 2014 - Pixeles of Identity, International Festival for Video & Performance, Haber Gallery, Buenos Aires. 2014 - Morphos II, International Video-Art Festival, Venice. 2013 - Bahia (In) Sonora, International Sound & Video Art Festival, Bahia Blanca. 2012 - Cineminuto Festival, C.C. Recoleta, Buenos Aires. ALE THORNTON Last Collective Shows: PDF: poetry in different formats, MACBA. Emergentes, Young Artist from Latinoamerica, ????? “Hidden look”, Hirsch / Brodsky / Valansi / Rivas/ Olivera / Thornton. Rolf Gallery. Fase 6.0, Meeting between Art & Technologies, C.C. Recoleta, Buenos Aires. “Epistolary” Dialogue with the collection, Museo Castagnino+Macro, Rosario. “5 visual poets”, Pasaje 17 Gallery, Bs. As. Central Bank National Award. C.C. Borges. “About Change” Artist form Latin América and Caribe, The World Bank Art Program, Washington. Rioplatense Award for Visual Arts, OSDE Foundation. Iberoamerican Award Aerolíneas Argentinas Foundation. Palermo University Award, National Museum of Fine Arts. Award of the National Academy of Fine Arts. www.athornton.com.ar Last Solo/Duo Shows: 2014 - “I wirte / I draw”, Charno Gallery, Kansas City. 2013 - “Overwriten”, Mock galleria, Bs. As. 2012 – A Series, Olavarria Art Museum, Olavarria 2011 - “Unthinkable”, Pabellón4 arte contemporáneo, Bs. As. 2010 - “Befote the words”, Angel Guido Art Project, Bs. As. 2009 – “Hi”, Matthei gallery, Santiago de Chile Financial support for the International Monkey Business Art Project has been provided by Kosmos Culture Foundation from Zug, Switzerland. International Monkey Business Nina Staehli (CH) Ale Thornton (ARG) OKTOBER 2015 Luzern