John Baldessari: Alphabetical Order / Ahmet Ögüt - R.E.P. (Revolutionary Experimental Space)

Dealing with rhetoric and visual camouflage, this exhibition looks at performative language creating (miss) communication with works turning to didactive signage or symbolic codes in order to give expression to personal, political standpoints. In John Baldessari’s (US) video from 1972, where flashcards are used to teach a houseplant the alphabet, the artist ironically illustrates the opaque and artificial nature of language as a system of signs. R.E.P .(Revolutionary Experimental Space, UA) install a wall painting, a system of visual codes that through different configurations are lining out political and economical situations in contemporary Europe. Ahmet Ögüt (TR) transforms a car using paper cut outs, in a humorous way commenting on harsh local political realities.

In connection with the presentation of R.E.P. in Alphabetical Order, Index initiates a collaboration with web-based art magazine KRAM, published in Kyiv.

During the opening of Alphabetical Order, the Index publication Exteriors will be launched. The book documents the project Exteriors, Kyiv and Odessa 2007, including essays by Boris Buden, Catharina Gabrielsson and Olesya Ostrovska.

An additional presentation will take place in the frame of a CCCK exhibition at the Periferic Biennial, Iasi, 2008.

In connection to the exhibition an event with Geist Magazine will take place 17 September 6 pm at Index:
Geist on Speed: intensities in bureaucratic and activistic practices

Captions:
1.R.E.P. “Patriotism”, 2008
2.Ahemt Ögüt “Somebody elses car”, 2005
3.John Baldessari “Teaching a Plant the Alphabet”, 1972

The image by John Baldessari is published with permission from Electronic Arts Intermix