Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 1 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE + SOAVINA RAMAROSON Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 2 Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 3 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE + SOAVINA RAMAROSON EXHIBITION: 13.02.10- 13.03.10 VERNISSAGE: 13.02.10 AT 19H CURATOR: BONAVENTURE S. B. NDIKUNG SAVVY CONTEMPORARY RICHARDSTR. 43-44 12043 BERLIN Katalog.qxd 4 10.02.2010 17:35 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE Seite 4 CONCEPT Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 5 CONCEPT It is just a search… Sometimes a search for singularity in plurality Sometimes a search for identity in a community Sometimes a search for the root-end or the leaf-end of a cliché or stereotype Sometimes a search for the thin line between an understatement and a hyperbole Katalog.qxd 6 10.02.2010 17:35 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE Seite 6 CONCEPT The concept of artistic creation spans considering the formation and not the Ramaroson, of completely different a wide scope which can be banally form, which due to its intangibility backgrounds and media with which simplified as ranging from an under- seems to us an understatement. they contain their artistic positions, statement to a hyperbole. Such an Likewise, one could bullet out enough are pre-destined to expose together. understatement could be interpreted arguments to define the works of the While the differences in the causa in the intensive and poignant minimal most abstract painters or most materialis, causa formalis and causa and conceptual art by Flavin, Judd or aggressive performance artists as just effiziens are seemingly evident, from LeWitt and such a hyperbole could be an understatement of what it could Aristotle’s point of view, Petra Lottje a lapidary association to extreme per- be. Whichever way this might turn out and Soavina Ramaroson have the formances of the Wiener Aktionismus to be, this phenomenon is worth same causa finalis, namely art as a around Brus or Nitsch. reflecting and researching on. state of expression, aesthetics and encounter. By getting into the crux of What on the other hand is probably In this line of thought, the art space more difficult to portray is a combina- SAVVY Contemporary, which seeks at broach the issue of, but also demysti- tion of an understatement and a instigating a dialogue between the fy the extremes (geographically, hyperbole, which by any definition are populist terminologies “western art” historically or conceptually). If Marcel two sides of the same coin; just like and “non-western art” invites two Duchamp’s quote “Art is a game bet- any other extremes. One might also milestones of a new generation to ween all people of all periods” holds argue that the statement made by the deliberate on this understatement- true, then SAVVY contemporary will minimalists was by no way an under- hyperbole complex. Crossing the ima- be the playground for this game, statement but a gross exaggeration of ginary geographical lines in art, these while Lottje and Ramaroson are the an entity or an idea, especially when two artists, Petra Lottje and Soavina players. their works, this exhibition intends to Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 7 In their works, both artists’ theoreti- general and movies in particular. and platitudes in his photography, he cal horizon is around the realm of Thus, her work is a pursuit to maybe transforms understatements that human interactions and their social filter the surplus to the essential. It is almost disappear in daily routine to a context as coined by Nicolas a bid at personifying the mainstream. massive exaggeration that calls for Bourriaud in Relational Aesthetics. It is a searching for an identity in the utmost attention. The scenes in his On the one hand, Lottje extracts epi- mass and a means of canalization works narrate stories of a strange sodes, representing the exaggerated using the arts. world but the emotions emanating emotions and clichés affiliated to On the other hand, Ramaroson does a from the figures are omnipresent and Hollywood movies of a period of over sozio-anthropological research of appeal to an almost global identifica- 50 years, to create her own universe. mainstream clichés with the camera tion. It is an effort to create a hand- By extracting, metamorphosing and as his weapon. Be it clichés about book of contemporary symbolism in making a video collage, Lottje com- women, poverty or the illusion of photography. presses these characteristic factors manhood, the poignancy of SAVVY Contemporary will host Petra meant to attract and strike a chord Ramaroson’s work can be summarized with a mega-public to an understate- in a title of one of his pieces “la force Lottje and Soavina Ramaroson from ment without losing the emotions and ne peut resister à l’esprit”. In a cryp- the 13th Feb. – 13th March for the clichés meant to be transmitted. By tic depiction, he seeks at decanalizing Understatement hyperbole exhibition playing to the gallery but consciously a distinct identity to a mass of which will be curated by Bonaventure distancing herself from acting, Lottje impressions from popular culture. Soh Bejeng Ndikung. seeks at re-individualizing, in her own Spiked with humor and irony, way, the junk of information and pic- Ramaroson chooses to amplify… by tures provided by the mass media in over-expressing the found emotions www.savvy-contemporary.com Katalog.qxd 8 10.02.2010 17:35 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE Seite 8 Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 9 Katalog.qxd 10 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 10 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE SOAVINA RAMAROSON 1977, MADAGASKAR Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 11 In this same line of cognitive psychology, kground the sketches encompass a figure artist Soavina Ramaroson (*1977, in a three-dimensional space, with all com- Madagascar) embarked on a photographi- ponents precisely labelled. These sketches, cal research of phrases, ideas, images, which were originally meant to be drafts symbols and connotations on women that for a working-process, currently serve as have been overused so that they dwindled negatives or stereoplates and to the least Disecting a notion: into clichés or rendered stereotypes. as title blocks of the photographic works. Soavina Ramaroson’s „Women cliché“ Coming to think of it, stereotypes about Ramaroson tries, with much zeal and zest, certain groups of people, races, genders, to ignite a dialogue on the basis of politi- The genesis of the onomatopoeic word sexual orientation, religions or social sta- cal, social or religious women clichés pre- “cliché“ lies in the peculiar sound that ari- tus are as old as mankind… and clichés vailing in our societies today. The “red ses during a stereotyping process of prin- about women date as far back as the bibli- thread” in all the artworks in this series is ting technology… and indeed at the roots cal allegory of Eve betraying Adam and a white rope that at the same time sym- of their technological usage, the printer- Mankind by ceding to the serpent in the bolises the causes and consequences of words “cliché” and “stereotype” are syn- Garden of Eden. onyms. Tracing back to the Greek meaning these clichés. Also, the white rope symbolises the strong attachment related to cli- of stereotype, composing of stereos “firm” In his photographic series “Women cliché,“ chés, how difficult it is to get rid of clichés + tupos “impression,” one can easily com- Ramaroson meticulously put together a or maybe just reveals that clichés are a prehend the modern psychological mea- process, that involved an almost perfect never-ending line of thoughts i.e. a “firm ning of these expressions as coined by sketching of his intensions prior to reali- impression.” Walter Lippmann in his 1922 seminal text sing them with his female models. Public Opinion1,2. Reminiscent of his architectural bak- Katalog.qxd 12 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 12 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE SOAVINA RAMAROSON This series goes beyond mental labelling, symbols at the forefront: the dryer, the becomes her own slave master, falling vic- subconscious or conscious stereotyping… it dildo or the wedding ring… like mutations tim to fashion, bling-bling or vanity and dwells more or less around the frontiers of of abstracts from Puvis de Chavannes’ before the blink of an eye she is head- conscience and steps into a poetical con- 1879 Young girls at the seaside and over-heals a part of the cliché Blink blind. structivism in the form of photography. Mcneill Whistler’s 1864 Symphony in White The artist thematizes the most evident The works are surrounded by irony and No. 2. In this well composed piece, the topics in our contemporary society, be it are a microcosm of prevalent women cli- white rope creates the balance between the craze of having the ideal model struc- chés, reflecting empathy, obsession, the heated ups and downs in marital eroti- ture, which might come along with bulimia aggression, weakness or desperation. The cism and violence. This allusion is conti- or other eating disorders as a by-product, satirical poetry of Ramaroson’s works is nued in Marry me, which portrays the or be it the crave for perfection as depic- striking; In I’m free, the female models of “beautiful, exotic bird in a cage.” And alt- ted in Plastic surgery. By wrapping the various skin and eye colours are veiled in hough the gestures of torsion, bondage or model in a plastic foil Ramaroson makes a black, so that only their full, sometimes flipping the bird are even almost too clear, statement alluding to the pun, but also over-painted succulent lips and alluring eroticism is still in the air. shows the distortions of the body as a eyes are revealed. The rigidness and stirn- Ramaroson’s research on women cliché consequence of plastic surgery. The ness of their looks and the ropes around provokes with the conception of women as strength of this work lies in the easily their necks disclose everything but free- working or sex slaves and although a man overlooked details, as despite all the eff- dom! Nevertheless the luscious looks deep is never visible in Slavery it is imminent orts to attain perfection, behind the cur- behind their eyes betray an almost sado- who knots the ropes, who pulls the strings tains of privacy, the evidence of imperfec- masochistic tendency associated with or who forces to submission! A physical tion is evident e. g. in the asymmetry of some religious groups. enslaving might lead to a mental or ideolo- the labia. Pull my hair intentionally positions all the gical slavery, whereby the slave herself Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 13 Katalog.qxd 14 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 14 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE SOAVINA RAMAROSON The series culminates to its crescendo with Ramaroson, exposed in the Nouvelles the works Plus de regles and I love you Rencontres Africaines de la Photographie bastard. The ambiguity of the former is on (2007, Bamako), at Photoquai (2007, the one hand a plea for freedom and Musée du Quai Branly, Paris) or the Spot emancipation towards rules and regula- on Bamako (2008-09, IFA Gallery Berlin tions governing human beings, and on the and Stuttgart), go hand-in-hand with the other hand a scream of despair, agony and intensity of the Women Cliché series expo- resignation attached to the monthly men- sed in the international group exhibition struation period, clichéd to be a period of Consciences and Frontiers curated by ill-moods and caprice. The latter is a sar- Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung and castic but extremely strong comment on Simone Kraft (2009, Alte Post Berlin). The violence towards women. It is an image of social context of his works as well as the pain. I love you bastard is the effigy of the closeness to the aesthetics and politics of woman who misinterprets the ruthless everyday life form the quintessence of his aggression of her husband or the rest of works. Women Cliché is work in progress. the society for love. It is the image of It will be exciting to see the stereotypes rape, torture or misuse but with the irony that will catch Ramaroson’s interest in the of attachment. coming years. This young African artist, born and raised in Madagascar, trained as an architect in France, represents a new age of contemporary photography. Previous series by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, 2010 Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 15 Katalog.qxd 16 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 16 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE SOAVINA RAMAROSON in such a project? co-operation partner? If no, what deters you from doing According to me, art is specially a discus- such a co-operation? sion. To work with another person, artist or non artist is a very good way to make I generally don’t work with other artist but the work more interesting and richer. I think it’s just because I’m young in my Will you describe your work as having a social aesthetic and relation? art work. So far, you have had the chance to occupy yourself with your partner’s/ You have developed a ping-pong pro- My work, till now on photography is surely opponent’s artistic work… what do cess of communication for this exhibi- having a social relation. My aim is to show you think would have attracted you in tion. How is the communication going my feeling with what I see around me and co-operating with him/her, had it not so far and can you please explain your to share it. Some find it aesthetic, some been for this exhibition? role in this communication process? not. I’m happy if people just have feelings about it, like or dislike… In this case, it’s the drawings about the If I get the project, I think I’ll be “the women and fishes. model”. tion with someone you hardly know, Do you generally cooperate with other If you were asked to summarize your someone using a different artistic artists in your work as an artist? work as an artist in a few words, what medium than you do and to a topic If yes, what normally instigates you to will that be? based on marking contrasts. What do a co-operation and what is gene- exactly stimulates you to participate rally your common ground with the You have been invited to do an exhibi- Hard to answer… Let’s say “trying to be an Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 17 artist”. Individualism and the notion of lifting-off yourself or your characters from the mass play a huge role in your works. What exactly is it about singularity that occupies you? I don’t think I’m singular… People may think it, but I think I’m quite normal, unfortunately. On the other hand it is a thin line between singularity and plurality in your works, as your works touch on global and mainstream phenomena? ... Another issue that is evident in your work is the interest on the thematic “cliché”… what is it about an idea or Katalog.qxd 18 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 18 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE SOAVINA RAMAROSON an element which has been overused Not really, I was born like I am. to the point of losing its original meaning, that interests you? Your point of departure is architecture … how did you come to photography? Is your identity as an artist affiliated in any way to your nationality? “Clichés” for me are the reflection on our By accident! During an architecture project, I discovered that people liked my pic- society… it can open eyes on reality. For Till now, curators choose you first because me, we will need to use it again and you are from Africa or “non western” again. Now, the work of the artist is to artist. find his own way to use them. tures. Is there an exact point when one becomes an artist? When and how From your subjective point of view, is exactly did you find out that you were Do you seesaw between an “under- there a discrepancy between art from an artist or when and how did you statement” and an “exaggeration” in these geographical regions? decide to become an artist? I studied architecture. When you make a I don’t think I’m an artist yet… your work? Or do you basically consider both extremes as overlapping? building, you use the material around you, They are deeply linked, as people have you try to build a house not too different What is the point of origin for your their own interpretations in front of art. from the others around it… yes I think work as an artist… or bluntly, what is there is a discrepancy between art from the reason why you get up every mor- Is this an issue that plays a role or these geographical regions first because of ning and wish to do art? has played a role in any way in your the environment but also because of the work as an artist? thinking. The fun… Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 19 How will you characterize the development process of your art pieces? I do it like an architect; I do layouts and then realize it. Is there an artist (well-known or unknown) with whom you will like to work with or expose with? I let the future answer, no discrimination for me… Now I am bored of asking questions… Is there a question you would have liked me to ask? If yes, please ask yourself that question and give an answer to the question. I agree, let’s stop. Katalog.qxd 20 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 20 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE 1973, DEUTSCHLAND Language plays an important role as point of departure in most of Petra Lottje’s videos. In „Episoden“ (2009), „Loope“ (2009), „Time is the killer“ (2008) and „O.T.“, she combines sound sequences from different movies, accords them a somatic expresMind the gap: sion and relocates them into new contexts. Petra Lottje’s video works Through this reduced, but in no way neutral mimic expression of her figures, Lottje The components of reality appear in Petra succeeds in constructing a gap between Lottje’s works like variables in the human the emphatic language from the movies coordinate system. The artist dissects the and their alleged authors. Armed with a corpus of daily routine, reminiscent of a subtle irony, Lottje approaches these parti- chemist, who dissociates elements from ally ambiguous utterances and grotesque their bonds in order to study their charac- situations in their entanglement and quest teristics. At this juncture, video art serves for understanding. By absorbing the whole the purpose of a subjective experimental spectrum of mostly contradictory voices kit to research on questions of the compo- which cinema yields, like love or identity, sition of communication, the origination of the protagonists become emblems of meaning, the effect of pictures and the general human sentiments but also media- antagonism of individuality and common- conditioned (self-) perception. Today, each places. person is a protagonist of his/her own Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 21 movie, however to what extent is this departure for understanding… as it favours movie actually innate? And how much are the unfolding of the place and moment in we ourselves media-collective stereotypes? the cosmos of the beholder for his/her own unique perception. We do not find answers in Petra Lottje’s works… as they treat those issues that lie in between. They reveal the ‘perhaps’ inexpressible rest of inter-personal communication. In order to address these issues, the artist uses the method of isolation and displacement of the single components – language, picture and carnal expression, so as to unhinge the ultimate from them. She stretches this process until the point where the re-composition of the components becomes the gap, the incongruence between two elements. The space of impossibility of expression or of failure in communication or understanding develops here. However, this space does not describe a ‘black hole’! It rather has the potential of becoming the new point of Susanne Husse, 2010 Katalog.qxd 22 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 22 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE combine our approaches or positions. Let’s such a co-operation? see if I will start thinking differently in the course of the preparation process. I enjoy the exclusive freedom of decision making in my work as an artist. How, So far, you have had the chance to when and with what I work! I gladly incor- occupy yourself with your partner’s/ porate opinion and/or advice, but I am Will you describe your work as having opponent’s artistic work… what do hardly willing to compromise at the final a social aesthetic and relation? you think would have attracted you in implementation. co-operating with him/her, had it not As a part of it, yes! been for this exhibition? You have been invited to do an exhibi- Currently, a kind of challenge and ‘forth tion. How is the communication going tion with someone you hardly know, feeling or fumbling’ is taking place per so far and can you please explain your someone using a different artistic email. role in this communication process? based on marking contrasts. What Do you generally cooperate with other I had an idea with which I confronted exactly stimulates you to participate artists in your work as an artist? Soavina. The first reaction from him was in such a project? If yes, what normally instigates you to already different than I expected. I smiled You have developed a ping-pong process of communication for this exhibi- medium than you do and to a topic do a co-operation and what is gene- at my own astonishment – because that’s A particular excitement arouses in me rally your common ground with the exactly the point which this experiment when I think of a collective exhibition. I co-operation partner? amounts to. My approach doesn’t function wouldn’t have come up with the idea to If no, what deters you from doing in this case and I am inevitably dumping Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 23 Katalog.qxd 24 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 24 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE my conception of the “final outcome”. productions. The fascination about the fact “cliché”… what is it about an idea or Everything is open! that these films reach/touch so many peo- an element which has been overused ple, as a perceptible medium, as a trigger to the point of losing its original mea- If you were asked to summarize your of emotions, as a possibility of communi- ning, that interests you? work as an artist in a few words, what cation… is intriguing. But at the same time will that be? there is the sentence: 100 people sit in a What is thrilling is, however, the fact that cinema and watch 100 different movies. clichés always have an effect – be it unde- As an artist I see myself as a subjective Where is the individuality? What does an liberated concordance or controversial filter, which first of all sieves and secondly individual take along with him from the discussions. They have a societal function, compresses everything that reaches me, film and is it about the movie that occu- they ease stereotyped thinking and pole- touches me and doesn’t let me go. I the- pies her/him more than just the question mic slogans and could easily become wea- refore give a commentary to a situation in of how to get home after the movie? pons of power! When I decided to use cliché-like situations in one of my works and which I find myself and to a situation that On the other hand it is a thin line bet- to use myself as a ‘projection screen’, I ween singularity and plurality in your found out that this piece of work touched Individualism and the notion of lif- works, as your works touch on global and drew sympathy in a wide range of ting-off yourself or your characters and mainstream phenomena? people as well as it gave them a feeling of encompasses me. from the mass play a huge role in your works. What exactly is it about togetherness. Also, I noticed that the ... I try to explain it on the basis of huge film superficiality of the chosen film sequences nevertheless granted the viewer much singularity that occupies you? Another issue that is evident in your space – a different and new space away work is the interest on the thematic from my subjective composition. Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 25 Katalog.qxd 26 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 26 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE Do you seesaw between an “under- From your subjective point of view, is Is there an exact point when one statement” and an “exaggeration” in there a discrepancy between art from becomes an artist? When and how your work? Or do you basically consi- these geographical regions? exactly did you find out that you were an artist or when and how did you der both extremes as overlapping? There might be differences in the realiza- decide to become an artist? Both… they overlap! On the one hand, I tion process but I am convinced that the make big things small and on the other concern and the incentive of artists – no It was a gradual process to gain the fee- hand, by reflecting and transforming matter where they come from – is quin- ling that I am good in what I do and my things, I make them bigger again. tessentially similar. passion for what I do is huge and persi- Is this an issue that plays a role or Your point of departure is sculpture… has played a role in any way in your how did you come to video? stent. What is the point of origin for your work as an artist… or bluntly, what is work as an artist? My interest in written word and what it the reason why you get up every mor- I am first of all an artist with a specific can provoke was my point of departure. ning and wish to do art? socialization with which I am confronted Thereafter came the Found Footage- and deal with. Sound… pictures were, in my opinion, I am fulfilled to live life like this. I will like always lacking. That thing of which lang- to use the notion of passion again: for art, Is your identity as an artist affiliated uage has no equivalent word for it. The the possibility, the path to a piece of work, in any way to your nationality? consequence of this all is the combina- the richness that dwells within! tion… that is what video means to me. Obviously. Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 27 Katalog.qxd 28 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 28 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PETRA LOTTJE How will you characterize the development process of your art pieces? I believe I have already given an answer to this question. Is there an artist (well-known or unknown) with whom you will like to work with or expose with? Yes. Now I am bored of asking questions… Is there a question you would have liked me to ask? If yes, please ask yourself that question and give an answer to the question. Dear Bonaventure. What prompts you to put up this art space? …(I won’t answer the question for you)… Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 29 Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 30 Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 31 UNDERSTATEMENT HYPERBOLE PUBLISHER CONTACT Petra Lottje + Soavina Ramaroson SAVVY Contemporary – SAVVY Contemporary, Richard Str. Curated by Dr. Bonaventure Soh the laboratory of form ideas 43/44, Berlin-Neukölln Bejeng Ndikung www.savvy-contemporary.com Art Director - Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung (BSBN) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Events Director - Stefan Fuhrmann Stefan Fuhrmann, Claudia Lamas C. (Management + PR), Cilgia Gadola, PICTURES Hannah Chaker, Robert Würz, Andreas Petra Lottje and Soavina Ramaroson Landeck, Peter Auhagen TEXTS DESIGN Susanne Husse – Text on Petra Lottje Friedrich Fröhlich BSBN – Text on Soavina Ramaroson, interviews and exhibition concept © 2010 the authors © 2010 of reproduced images: TRANSLATIONS the artists BSBN Printed in Germany Katalog.qxd 10.02.2010 17:35 Seite 32
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