When We Were Monsters

"Chicago-based Steve Reinke and Berlin-based James Richards may be separated by twenty years of age and the Atlantic Ocean, but they shared a fascination with psychically haunted images that 'elect, fulfill or negate some desire.' Their collaborative videos combining various media clips are deeply unsettling, producing ambiguous, often visceral sensations rather than straightforward knowledge" (Jon Davies, Art & Queer Culture). This program shows two collaborative works by Reinke and Richards–one of them brand new–as well as the film When I Was a Monster by the American artist Anne McGuire.

Program

Steve Reinke, James Richards, What Weakens The Flesh Is The Flesh Itself, 2017, 41 min
Anne McGuire, When I Was a Monster, 1996, 6 min
Steve Reinke, James Richards, When We Were Monsters, 2020, 20 min

Followed by a live video conversation with Steve Reinke and James Richards, moderated by Manuela Ammer (in English)

Steve Reinke (b. 1963, CA) is an artist and writer best known for his ongoing series of monologue-based videos Final Thoughts. He lives in Chicago. Exhibitions/screenings (selection): Images Festival, Toronto (2018); The Genital is Superfluous, Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin (2017); International Film Festival Rotterdam (2015); Rib Gets In the Way, Whitney Biennial, New York (2014).

James Richards (b.1983, UK) is an artist whose video, sound and curatorial projects examine themes of obsession, desire and technology through the use of archival research, found footage and extensive collaboration. He lives in Berlin. Recent exhibitions include Crossing (with Leslie Thornton), Secession, Vienna (2018) and Requests And Antisongs, ICA, London (2016). Richards represented Wales at the 57th Venice Biennale (2017).

The program takes place on the occasion of Steve Reinke’s exhibition Butter, on view until October 26, 2020.

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