In his work Naneci Yurdagül reflects, subtly and ironically, on social, cultural and political situations and their change, which always have traces of his own biography. One focus of his artistic engagement is topics on national and religious identity, migration, social exclusion, cultural appropriation and mistrust. They are constantly picked up and are treated critically, often in relation to current public debates, to intervene in the social discourse. His artistic expression includes almost all media such as performance, film, painting, photography, sculpture and installation, setting specific incentives.
In his installation at the Kunstverein Wiesbaden, which is conceived as a round tour, Naneci Yurdagül focuses "exemplary" on the phenomenon of cultural appropriation and opens up new perspectives on the supposedly alien, by holding up a mirror to the familiar. The religious dogma of the prohibition of images, which once was common for all monotheistic religions, but had culturally different (artistic) characteristics and for centuries and up to the present day has potential for conflict, is not only the formal starting point of the exhibition, but the lucid image of the state of society, which is characterized by anxiety, stereotype prejudices up to cynicism. The consequences range from steered rage via burning Embassy buildings and national
emblems up to "the defence of German freedom in the Hindu Kush" as ultima ratio.
The strict bid of performative contribution, which the artist asks of his audience before entering the exhibition, offers not only the immediate confrontation, but also an anonymised immersion into a "world of adventure" where bitter and delicious are close to each other. The language herein becomes his artifice, which is still puning when he takes a position, even when he puts a ban on it. Latest with the titling the apparently known, in its new context, will become something completely strange, to something very different than the original level of meaning - "thought patterns" are being questioned.
Curated by Elke Gruhn
With friedly support by Nassauische Sparkasse
