MEET YOUR IDOL
Helene Hellmich
with, on, via,
Eva Barto, Sophie Calle, Kevin Kemter, Manfred Pernice, Anna Oppermann, Jonas Mekas, Joëlle Tuerlinckx, and more.
Exhibition curated by insitu collective
(Marie Graftieaux, Nora Mayr, Lauren Reid)
19 September - 18 October 2014
insitu, Berlin
with, on, via,
Eva Barto, Sophie Calle, Kevin Kemter, Manfred Pernice, Anna Oppermann, Jonas Mekas, Joëlle Tuerlinckx, and more.
Exhibition curated by insitu collective
(Marie Graftieaux, Nora Mayr, Lauren Reid)
19 September - 18 October 2014
insitu, Berlin
Helene Hellmich Books/Bücher/Livres 2014. 13 publications, laser print on paper, paper, various formats and publications, offset print, edition of 50, 84 x 42 cm. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
From all-time superstars to small and humble role-models, personal idols take many different forms, giving us something to be awed by and aspire to. For meet your idol, insitu colective invited the German artist Helene Hellmich to reflect on those who have influenced her practice and to present her work alongside theirs and effectively ‘meet her idol’.
Hellmich presented a coherent ensemble that interwove her work with her so-called idols. In addition to a selection of well-known artists, Hellmich also included peers and colleagues from her own generation. Taking a self-reflexive approach, Hellmich exhibited drawings of what she imagined the exhibition to look like as well as photocopies of catalogues by artists she admires and responses to other artists works through reproductions or self-built and designed installations in which to display them.
Hellmich deviated from the given framework by erasing the hierarchical meaning implied within the questions of “What is an idol?” and “What kind of relationship do I have with my idol?”. First, by proposing a long list of fellow artists, she denies the status of an idol, often understood as exclusive and beyond reach. Then, the deliberate integration of the works of the guest artists (her supposed idols) into a global installation, demonstrates how artists integrate others’ practices into their own.
Hellmich presented a coherent ensemble that interwove her work with her so-called idols. In addition to a selection of well-known artists, Hellmich also included peers and colleagues from her own generation. Taking a self-reflexive approach, Hellmich exhibited drawings of what she imagined the exhibition to look like as well as photocopies of catalogues by artists she admires and responses to other artists works through reproductions or self-built and designed installations in which to display them.
Hellmich deviated from the given framework by erasing the hierarchical meaning implied within the questions of “What is an idol?” and “What kind of relationship do I have with my idol?”. First, by proposing a long list of fellow artists, she denies the status of an idol, often understood as exclusive and beyond reach. Then, the deliberate integration of the works of the guest artists (her supposed idols) into a global installation, demonstrates how artists integrate others’ practices into their own.
Helene Hellmich Gedankenkarten (install view) 2014. Pencil on paper. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
meet your idol (install view) 2014. Photo: insitu
meet your idol (install view) 2014. Photo: insitu
meet your idol (install view) 2014. Photo: insitu
Manfred Pernice Untitled (cassette 18) 2013. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
meet your idol (install view) 2014. Photo: insitu
Helene Hellmich Computer Contents , 19.06.14, 17:56:01 (install detail) 2014. 4 metal folders, 2000 pages, laser print A4, wooden construction. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
Jonas Mekas Video Jonas Mekas (neue Bildschirmaufnahme) 2014. Video, colour, sound, 20:00 min. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
meet your idol (promotional image) 2014. Photo: Helen Hellmich
Eva Barto Obsolète 2014. Press text from a previous exhibition. Dimension variable. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu
The insitu team and the artist would like to thank Manfred Pernice, Eva Barto, Kevin Kemter, the Galerie ARNDT representing Sophie Calle and the Galerie Barbara Thumm representing the estate of Anna Oppermann for the loan of the presented artworks.