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DECADENCE NOW!VISIONS OF EXCESSOtto M. Urban (Curator) Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague (Group show) 29. September 2010 |
 | During the past several years, the concepts of decadence have begun to appear more and more in art theory, often in relation to current art. Decadence is one of the continual properties of modern art. The commonness of the concept of decadence, or its parallel existence outside of the sphere of art, also enables new methodological processes and combinations, and discovers new territories and relationships. Decadent art is excessive, it exceeds the level of what is generally acceptable, and it provocatively demolishes the most sensitive taboos. Decadence is also firmly connected to the clear stance of outsider individualism. |
| Galerie Rudolfinum 29. 9. – 19. 12. 2010 curator: Otto M. Urban |
| Decadence is a theme which is topical in current culture, or better yet, it is once again topical. The apocalyptic feeling of ruin and crisis of our civilization incites the increased interest in the dark side of humans and of the world itself. Starting ion the 1970’s, we can monitor the continual effort of contemporary art to work with typical decadent themes: alienation, deviation, spleen, perversion, horror, ugliness, beauty, hallucination, death, suicide, disappearance, narcissism, pornography, rape, narcotics, sickness and madness. In relation to this, the increased interest in decadence from the view of the expert and lay public is also relevant. Exhibitions which present works of decadent art evoke enthusiastic reactions in the same manner as public scandals do. However, they always open discussions on an entire line of key themes of current culture and society. It is also apparent that a theme which is seemingly obsolete and out-of-date, such as censorship (internal and external), once again makes an appearance on the scene in the context of the new political correctness. Decadent art is subversive, impulsive, it does not evoke indifference, but it requires the formulization of a clear stance. In this sense, decadence is excessive, extreme and also provocative. Alienation, seeming impartialness or depersonalized voyeurism is also a clearly profiled attitude of decadence. |
| The DECADENCE NOW! VISIONS OF EXCESS exhibition is the first international project of its kind which attempts to conceptually work with the concept of decadence in current art. The exhibition is not divided chronologically (too mechanical), but thematically into sequential sections which fluently and logically relate to each other, and which also create a sort-of imaginary closing circle. The exhibition shall be completed by an entire line of accompanying programs (music, film, literature etc.). |
| Parts of the exhibition: |
| I. Excess of the Self: Madness . II. Excess of the Body: Sex . III. Excess of the Beauty: Pop . IV. Excess of the Mind: Dark Visions . V. Excess of the Life: Death |
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Contact: Galerie RudolfinumAlsovo nabrezi 12 CZ - 110 01 Prague 1 Mrs. Klara Derzsiova (derzsiova@rudolfinum.org) Mrs. Milada Rezkova (rezkova@rudolfinum.org) Tel.: +420 227 059 205 Fax: +420 222 319 293 www.galerierudolfinum.cz |
 | Rudolfinum, Prague 2008
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