Michael Blum
Thursday 26 January 2006
7pm

Michael Blum studied history at Paris University and photography at ENP, Arles (F) before turning to an artistic practice as an escape from the numerous limitations of the academic field. His videos, installations and publications aim at re-reading the production of culture and history and at deconstructing myths. Whether they’re about Karl Marx (Wandering Marxwards, 1999), a pair of shoes (My Sneakers, 2001) or capitalism (Homo Oeconomicus, 2000; potlatch.doc, 2002; 400 years without a grave is longtime to shut up, 2002), his works are seeking new perspectives on and resonances to surrounding objects and concepts.

Recently, Blum has been addressing issues more closely related to European 20th century history: The Monument to the Birth of the 20th Century (O.K Centrum für Gegenwartskunst, Linz – Revolver Verlag, 2004-05) was based on the encounter of Hitler and Wittgenstein in a Linz schoolyard 100 years ago – and all speculations that might arise from it, ranging from political farce to memory discourse. In 2005, he was showing A Tribute to Safiye Behar at the 9th Istanbul Biennial, a museum dedicated to the Jewish marxist-feminist and free-thinker who had a 30-year long affair with Mustapha Kemal Atatürk and influenced most of the reforms he was implementing in the 1920′s and which founded modern Turkey.

Michael Blum is born 1966 in Jerusalem. He’s based in Vienna.
www.blumology.net