Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
Newcastle University
Corridor Plateau I-III
Corridor Plateau developed a unique, organically-structured curatorial framework for group exhibitions based on an artist-led, collective approach to the creation of a 'Gesamtkunstwerk', a total environment in which every part is also a key to the whole. Whilst realised in three exhibitions, 2011-13, a key principle is the framework's potential to generate an on-going series in which the collective and the Gesamtkunstwerk migrates in changing constellations as an independent exhibition format. Conceived by Christian Freudenberger and Markus Karstiess in response to the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, the project engages with current debate on the relationship between artistic and curatorial authorship, and questions the nature of the collective as well as conventions of stand-alone exhibition practice.
In Corridor Plateau 1-3 three distinct manifestations of the Gasamtkunstwerk were created, each bringing paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures together in an interior space alongside furniture and wall-paintings. The precedent of the artist's (vinyl) record, (Schwitter's Ursonate being a forerunner) was adopted as a connecting principle: integral to each exhibition it played on a turntable in the space reflecting the notion of the collective by bringing together music by Detlef Weinrich, cover by Michael Bauer, inner-sleeve by Peyman Rahimi and labels by Thomas Schütte. Corridor Plateau featured works by Bauer, Esther Kläs (NY); Rahimi (Frankfurt); Schütte, Weinrich, Freudenberger, Karstiess, Seb Koberstaedt, Konrad Klapheck (Düsseldorf); Markus Saile (Cologne); Hannah Höch, Victor Vasarely and Anonymous Artist.
Research disseminated in three public exhibitions (Kunstverein Schwerte, Germany; Eastside Projects, Birmingham, UK; Gallery DREI, Cologne, Germany); LP release, Apparent Extent, Cologne (2011); exhibition publications by Kuntsverein Schwerte, 2011 and Gallery DREI, 2013. Recognised by: Sparda Award to Karstiess and Freudenberger, 2011; ADKV-Art Cologne Award shortlist, 2012. Reviews: Anneka French, POV magazine issue 2, 2012; Thimotheus Vermeulen, Frieze d/e No.11 in 2013. Supported by Kunststiftung NRW Germany and Arts Council England.
