Seeing is believing
Works that serve to oppose media images by means of other images. Group exhibition at KW Berlin, curated by Susanne Pfeffer.
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May 1, 2011. 2011
2 LCD monitors,
2 framed prints
Official press photograph from the White House by Pete Souza, showing President Obama and his staff following the progress of the bin Laden compound raid.
By means of a sophisticated composition of the cleverly staged scene the U.S. government breaks with the long historical and cultural-political tradition of publicly displaying the slain war opponent. The days of "seeing is believing" are over. Obama asked the public to believe without seeing. Because seeing in this case would involve catastrophic risks and dangers - as the President publicly stated.
For his work May 1, 2011 Alfredo Jaar adapted this omnipresent media image and juxtaposes it with a white screen, which symbolically refers to the absent images. The non-image occupies the position of the invisible screen, on which all the imaginative imagery called forth by the press icon can be projected. The caption to the right of the photo of the White House identifies all political figures in the press image, while on the left side next to the white screen there is no one to be identified. Jaar's work reflects a deep mistrust of pictorial representation and the political presentation of images. (From the short guide)
© Photo: Haupt & Binder
Works that serve to oppose media images by means of other images. Group exhibition at KW Berlin, curated by Susanne Pfeffer.