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press release
- Jens Haaning
April 25 - June 82002,
Opening Thursday April 25 from 17-19
It is a great pleasure
to present a new work by Jens Haaning "Copenhagen - Bangkok (light
bulb exchange)" 2002.
The work consists
of a swopping of the fluorescent tubes in the exhibition space of
the gallery with the fluorescent tubes of a Thai 24 - 7 chain store,
V-Shop" at Samsan Rd. Nakorn, Chaisri Dusit in Bangkok. The tubes
from the shop in Bangkok now function as light in the gallery and
the tubes from the gallery function in the the shop in Bangkok.
"Copenhagen - Bangkok (light bulb exchange)" is one of Jens Haaning's
more discrete and poetic pieces but it is nevertheless characteristic
of his practice. Placing entire environments and objects in new
and unfamiliar surroundings has become one of Jens Haaning's main
strategies in his work.
For the last ten years Haaning has been occupied with issues concerning
the mulicultural situation in Western Europe, often seen from an
angle which combines social, political, existential and economical
aspects.
The piece "Copenhagen - Bangkok (light bulb exchange)" should be
seen in this connection. A political and social aspect of the relationship
between Thailand and Denmark is the fact that an increasing number
of both legal and illegal immigrants from Thailand has come to Denmark
in the past few years. Some of these illegal immigrants are young
women who come to Denmark with hopes for a better life but due to
their illegal status in the country, they often end up being exploited
by the prostitution industry. This group is the least visible and
unable to get any help from the Danish authorities. Seen from an
economical point of view, Thailand has become a centre of an increasing
invasion of Western tourists who demand a discount holiday resort
with exotic foods, massages, prostitution, etc.
"Copenhagen - Bangkok (light bulb exchange)" not only relates to
these circumstances of cultural exchange, but it is also an extension
of the white cube to a grocery shop in the everyday world and vice
versa. The intervention works both ways which only emphasizes the
cultural and socio-political differences between the two countries
even more.
The light bulb exchange Copenhagen - Bangkok sheds a discrete light
over these aspects of the relationship between the two countries.
We welcome you in the gallery to see for yourself. During the last
years Jens Haaning has been exhibiting extensively in institutions
and galleries in North America, Europe and Asia.
If you have any questions please take contact and we will be very
pleased to assist you. We welcome you in the gallery.
Kind regards
Nicolai Wallner
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