David Claerbout - Five Hours, Fifty Days, Fifty Years
Invited commissioner : Ory Dessau / Curator : Christian Mosar, assited by Charlotte Masse
In his exploration of technological imagery, David Claerbout has developed a unique practice at the intersection of experimental cinema, video installation, digital animation, and live streaming of information flows. He is interested above all in how we perceive images. His work seeks to reconfigure the distinction between vision, memory, and hallucination.
A major exhibition of selected works by Claerbout, entitled Five Hours, Fifty Days, Fifty Years, will open on October 18 at the Konschthal Esch. This exhibition will present an overview of the complexity of Claerbout's recent and earlier work, as well as his latest creation, The Woodcarver and the Forest, which the artist describes as an experience to be lived rather than seen. It consists of a performative video installation that functions as a ruthless deforestation machine disguised as a pleasant meditative scene. Programmed to last several years, the installation shows a forest surrounding the woodcarver's modernist villa gradually disappearing as trees are cut down to make wooden objects.
A book discussing the chapters, disciplines, techniques, and fields of knowledge mobilized by Claerbout in his practice will be published by König Books to coincide with the exhibition. This book can serve as a key to interpretation or as a glossary of the artist's work.
Location : Konschthal Esch
