Practicing Profession, minus 2002 #1, #2
2002
designing and practicing a suit as an artist’s outfit and a photo documentation
C-Print
40 x 40 cm
Courtesy of Galerie Wien Lukatsch, Berlin and the artist
Photo: Yeonjin Oh, Jamie Woodley
The work, Practising Profession, Minus 2002, was initiated by the participation in the exhibition ”40 Jahre: Fluxus und die Folgen
(40 Years: Fluxus and the Consequences)”. The invitation to the exhibition is rewarded with a project in which I have work clothes
made for me, and only with this offer the expected performance and competence. The clothes are valuable because, in this case,
the competence expected from me cannot be offered without an increase in stamina effected by the suit. My performance is replaced
by the claim that with this suit I am a better artist.
Section 1: The suit is personal work clothing for all occasions which I find to be interesting or relevant in professional terms.
The jacket was made by a well-known fashion designer. In contrast to this, the pants were bought second-hand.
The clothes actually look simple in a timeless way, except that they are turned completely inside-out.
The suit therefore loses its representative look, for whatever reason. It indirectly demands a new use, but at the same time this seems impeded.
Section 2: During the entire course of the exhibition, I wear the suit no matter where I am. Daily use is decisive for the work,
only in this way does it attain a presence in my professional life. In other words, the suit becomes part of my professional life
no matter what
happens to it. And in yet other words, the suit becomes an object in my profession and thus creates intentional and unintentional things.
Section 3: In and outside the exhibition I perform provocative actions on certain days with the help of the suit.
These actions not only create a certain tangible visuality, but also dense moments in regard to the work.
This section functions under the motto innovation and provocation, bodily and psychological limits are tested in order to show whether the suit
really helps.