The project ?Lock 2,4,6?, which has been realised in cooperation with the KUB, was designed for the planed provocative building by Peter Zumthor. The aim of the installation is to capture certain moments of different systems of epistemological, corporate, anatomic and linguistic aspects. Monologues, rituals and orchestration are captured on tape and are shown in a 3D projection.

This connection of moving pictures and graphic media find their expression in the looped acts, which are separated across the exhibition rooms.

The installation starts with a basic problem, which is addressed by the artist: Have we thought of switching the lights of? Most of us just ignore these annoying thoughts even if it could give us a new perspective, which gives us access to the possession of the mind. The restraint to turn backwards and look if the room is really dark may seem normal to most, but is choked; just 1 of 50 people can not leave the room without constantly switching the light on and off.  The artist has the opinion that the confrontation of boring everyday things can give us a deeper insight in the dilemma of human existence.

A large imploding light bulb is one of the many connection elements of this fantastic machine, which uses all rooms of the KUB. Three different video choirs, mainly women, drag queens and children, bring compositions of the artist on stage. The projected HD-Video material is combined with special graphics, displays and different objects and forms a certain type of collage. Lips, eyes and feet are enhanced and interact with domestic elements like remote controls, cleaning utilities, cigarettes and lottery documents. The rooms in the KUB are connected by a stream of projected fog, which goes from bottom to top; simultaneously liquid flows from top to bottom. The interaction between language, music, performance and objects via video creates a large and impossible system.

?Lock 2,4,6? consists of original, specially made texts and productions of the artist. Among the actors are Brandon Olson and Tabboo!, Susana Gaudêncio and Tony Conrad. Together with Dan Lloyd, Brownell Professor for philosophy at the Trinity College Hartford Connecticut, Oursler created original soundtracks, which have been generated with MRT-data.

Tony Oursler is known for his mind blowing media installations, which often give insight into the depths of the soul. Often his latest pieces have a sculptural, room grasping video elements, which transform spectators into actors. Oursler is a pioneer of video art. He has been creating these since the early 70?s. After the realisation of a spectacular video-sound-installation at the KUB in 2001, which was projected on the outside wall of the building, he kept on working on pieces in public space. For his first large single exhibition in Austria he developed artwork for the whole building. ?Lock 2,4,6? is the acme of a common theme dedicated quartet of installations, which have been shown at the gallery Bernier/Eliades in Athens (2007), the Lisson gallery in London (2008) and the metro pictures gallery New York (2009). The exhibition in Bregenz promises a new interesting insight into is alarming art.

Accompanying to the exhibition ?Lock 2,4,6? Tony Oursler chose 6 pictures from the current KUB-Billboards. Every billboard has the size 332 x 332 cm and transfers the message of the artist to the outside world.

The catalogue, since 1996 the first publication on Ourslers art, shows large drawings of the new pieces. In his essay Friedmann Malsch, of the art Museum Liechtenstein, describes the early pieces of Oursler. Gunter Gebauer, Free University Berlin, determines the connection of Ourslers work to the media world.

Tony Oursler: «Lock 2,4,6». Deutsch/englisch, Hg. Kunsthaus Bregenz. Gestaltung: Mark Diaper, Eggers + Diaper, Potsdam. Essays von Friedemann Malsch und Gunter Gebauer, Interview von John C. Welchman, 168 Seiten, 26 x 23,25 cm, CD. Erscheinungstermin: November 2009, Preis: EUR 44.- 

Exhibition from 24. October 2009 until 17. January 2010

Kunsthaus Bregenz , Karl-Tizian-Platz, A - 6900 Bregenz
Opening hours: Tue till Sun 10 - 18, Thu 10 - 21

http://www.kunsthaus-bregenz.at