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REVIEW

Stapelung (Stack) 2007

PS1 Moma, New York
28 October - 19 November 2007

Reviewed by: Rachel Lois Clapham


‘Stapelung (Stack)’ 2007
A Five Channel Video Sculpture by John Bock
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Centre
28 October – 19 November 2007
Thursday thru Monday, 12 – 6pm
FREE with museum admission


Best known for his 1990’s spontaneous performance lectures, German born visual artist John Bock works with a wide range of different media, including sculpture, theatre, film and performance, and everything he touches takes on a dirty, low-fi, absurdly comedic feel that is distinctly Bockian.

For PERFORMA 07 Bock has installed a video sculpture, ‘Stapelung (Stack)’ 2007, at PS1 Contemporary Art Centre. ‘Stapelung (Stack)’ 2007 is a 5 channel video sculpture; a 5 screen video work that is also a 9 foot high steel rack supporting a messy combination of monitors, electrical wire, tape, plugs and 5 sets of audio headphones. Each monitor perched on the rack or ‘stack’ screens a different Bock film. On the top shelf is ‘Meechhouse’. Below that ‘Foetusgott in Memme’, then ‘NogoJones Dandy’ on top of ‘Wuhl um die Klumpen’ all 2002. On the bottom shelf is the 2004 ‘Sechser Tragerl Sushi Aschai Periskop Guatscht Schwanerl- Wie kann man das Gobu Ten Udong massig Bekleben.


Stapelung (Stack)’ 2007 is an important inclusion within the PERFORMA 07 biennial; it manifests Bock’s trademark combination of performance, sculptural construction and film whilst highlighting the artist’s concerns with narrative, staging and props. If the German titles don’t make sense to you, don’t be alarmed, it’s all part of the absurdity. To view Stapelung (Stack) 2007 is to be touched by a distinctly European tradition of artistic madness that comes directly down from Surrealism, Dada, Chaplin, Boyce, Beckett and Brecht. If you get there before November 19th step inside PSI, into Bocks mind, and be immersed in his world.


‘Stapelung (Stack)’ 2007 is co-presented by PS1 Contemporary Art Centre (a Museum of Modern Art affiliate) and PERFORMA , with support from Anton Kern Gallery.

Writer detail:
Rachel Lois Clapham is a curator and a writer, formerly of Live Art UK's Writing From Live Art, who now writes as part of Open Dialogues. http://www.opendialogues.com/

rachelloisclapham@gmail.com | www.opendialogues.com

Venue detail:
PS1 Moma
Long Island City. NY

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