Andreas Schulenburg: Whistleblow
Andreas Schulenburg: Whistleblow
31.01.2020 - 29.02.2020
On Friday January 31, we celebrate the opening of Andreas Schulenburg's new show "Whistleblow". The exhibition is the German artist's first with Hans Alf Gallery since joining the stable in 2019.
A whistle is an instrument that produces sound from the flow of gas; often air. The word whistleblow refers to the act of blowing a whistle. It can be either an intransitive verb or a noun. Etymologically the word is derived from the somewhat novel notion of a whistleblower – an insider, who discovers foul play in an organization and makes it public – and thus the word is a compound word referring directly to the specific act of whistleblowing, as opposed to the general act of blowing a whistle; a whistle blow.
In his new exhibition, Andreas Schulenburg delves into the realm of what he calls “visual words”, dissecting intrinsic layers of meaning and trying to contrast the words themselves with his own, idiosyncratic imagery. This approach of placing a word or concept in an unexpected context – something the artist calls “concept sampling” – often leads to quite absurd and humorous constellations.
Schulenburg is fascinated by new, trendy buzzwords that have flooded our vocabulary: coaching, mindfulness, teambuilding and wellness; concepts that are all somehow related to our survival as individuals in a complex and hectic world; quick-fixes to serenity and peace-of-mind; six easy steps to enlightenment. You do a little bit of yoga, meditate for a few minutes, have a sip of diet Coke and then it’s back on the proverbial hamster wheel. Schulenburg’s sampling is a way of forcing us to see the absurdity in our demeanor and, if not change our ways, then hopefully laugh at our follies.
In “Whistleblow”, Andreas Schulenburg demonstrates the full scope of his abilities, as he presents works in such diverse mediums as felt, watercolor, ceramics, mosaics and Fresco painting. The purpose of this mix is to cultivate the illogical by way of confusion and wonder, contrasting message and material, putting further emphasis on complexity and paradoxicality – two exemplary driving forces to the artist’s practice.
In each work, we are confronted by Schulenburg’s dark and twisted sense of humor; an eclectic narrative that departs with what is generally considered politically correct and instead allows us to see our society – and indeed ourselves – in a different light. Albeit undeniably political, Schulenburg is neither judgmental nor idealistic: The sole purpose of the show is to foster reflection and curiosity. The rest is up to us.
https://www.hansalf.com/index.php/artists/itemlist/tag/Andreas%20Schulenburg#sigProId893ad5daa2
Take a 3D-tour of the show with Artland:
Andreas Schulenburg
ANDREAS SCHULENBURG, Germany
Andreas Schulenburg (b. 1975) was born in Hamburg, Germany, but educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Schulenburg works with ceramics, drawing and sculpture in all different shapes and mediums, yet, his favorite material remains felt, which he uses for both small objects, large-scale sculptures and two-dimensional reliefs.
A general theme for Schulenburg is the relationship between nature and culture. His felt works hold a rather poetic sensibility, in which the soft nature of the felt contrasts the ongoing theme of human existence and the threats to it. With his sculptures and objects, Andreas Schulenburg strives to change our common view of the logic of things, which is realized through a humorous and absurd clash between nature and culture resulting in a reflection on the traditional order of reality.
Andreas Schulenburg has exhibited widely both in Denmark and abroad, and his works are held in a number of prestigious museums and private collections including ARoS, the Danish Arts Foundation and the New Carlsberg Foundation.
Available works:
Tiger med Downs Syndrom, 2017
Tiger med Downs Syndrom, 2017
Løve med Downs Syndrom, 2018
Løve med Downs Syndrom, 2018
Ugletræ #3, 2019
Ugletræ #3, 2019
Ugletræ #4, 2019
Ugletræ #4, 2019
Andedam, 2019
Andedam, 2019
Skorsten med Blomst, 2019
Skorsten med Blomst, 2019
Recreation, 2019
Recreation, 2019
Mindfulnes, 2019
Mindfulnes, 2019
Human Dignity is Inviolable, 2019
Human Dignity is Inviolable, 2019
Tiambilding, 2019
Tiambilding, 2019
The Last Trees of the Jungle, 2019
The Last Trees of the Jungle, 2019
Coaching, 2019
Coaching, 2019
Uglerelief, 2019
Uglerelief, 2019
Fuldmåne / Starlight, 2017
Fuldmåne / Starlight, 2017
Yellow Moon / Owl, 2017
Yellow Moon / Owl, 2017
Little Moon / Bed Moon, 2018
Little Moon / Bed Moon, 2018
Bloody Moon / Bat, 2017
Bloody Moon / Bat, 2017
Lit Blackout, 2017
Lit Blackout, 2017
Musik, 2019
Musik, 2019
Korsedderkoppen, 2019
Korsedderkoppen, 2019
Petroleum, 2020
Petroleum, 2020
Fake News, 2019
Fake News, 2019
Whistleblow, 2019
Whistleblow, 2019
Army Logos, 2019
Army Logos, 2019
Dyrenes Beskyttelse, 2020
Dyrenes Beskyttelse, 2020
Danish Crown, 2020
Danish Crown, 2020
Not Tested on Animals, 2020
Not Tested on Animals, 2020
Ohne Gentechnik, 2020
Ohne Gentechnik, 2020
Religion og Sekter, 2019
Religion og Sekter, 2019
Grey Jet / White Jet, 2019
Grey Jet / White Jet, 2019
Together But Still Alone, 2019
Together But Still Alone, 2019
Night Butterfly, 2017
Night Butterfly, 2017
Æskulapstav, 2019
Æskulapstav, 2019
https://www.hansalf.com/index.php/artists/itemlist/tag/Andreas%20Schulenburg#sigProId55b4a96eb6
Red Light, 2017
Red Light, 2017
The plant, 2017
The plant, 2017
Pen rocket, 2017
Pen rocket, 2017
Large Cooling Tower, 2019
Large Cooling Tower, 2019
Cooling Tower, 2019
Cooling Tower, 2019
Chimney, 2019
Chimney, 2019
Oil Barrel, 2019
Oil Barrel, 2019
Toxic Waste, 2019
Toxic Waste, 2019
Cooling Tower, 2019
Cooling Tower, 2019
Deutsche Bank, 2019
Deutsche Bank, 2019
Bordello, 2019
Bordello, 2019
Coca Cola, 2019
Coca Cola, 2019
Gazprom, 2019
Gazprom, 2019
Girls, 2019
Girls, 2019
McDonald, 2019
McDonald, 2019
Sex Shop, 2019
Sex Shop, 2019
https://www.hansalf.com/index.php/artists/itemlist/tag/Andreas%20Schulenburg#sigProId3a2389063a
Selected works:
50 Dollar Sitting Bull, 2015
50 Dollar Sitting Bull, 2015
Now We're Fucked!, 2013
Now We're Fucked!, 2013
Geldhahne, 2015
Geldhahne, 2015
Hermes Vancouver
Hermes Vancouver
Hermes Vancouver
Hermes Vancouver
Hermes Vancouver
Hermes Vancouver
I Know, You Love Me, 2013
I Know, You Love Me, 2013
Down's Syndrome Lion, 2018
Down's Syndrome Lion, 2018
The Natural Unreal, 2014
The Natural Unreal, 2014
https://www.hansalf.com/index.php/artists/itemlist/tag/Andreas%20Schulenburg#sigProId69e2ed8833