Natural Histories. Traces of the Political

Exhibition |

September 23, 2017 to January 14, 2018

Natural Histories
Traces of the Political

Curated by Rainer Fuchs

The exhibition Natural Histories. Traces of the Political explores representations of nature in reference to social processes and historical events. Looking at various themes, these works show the mutual interrelations between nature and history beyond all idyllic idealization.
The presentation spans the period from the 1960s to the present, beginning with works of conceptual art that reflect on both the conditions of artistic production and reception and also their social dimensions and critiques of history. Artists of the next generation draw on the traditions of critiques of colonialism and of society, and transfer and update these into their own contemporary environments.
Depictions of nature also play a role in works that look at issues like genocide or internment, flight, and resistance in the context of totalitarian systems and military conflicts. A further theme is the transformation of public and historical places by natural processes. Nature claims everything back and becomes a sign of historical change.

Artists:
Jonathas de Andrade, Mirosław Bałka, Heimrad Bäcker, Anca Benera & Arnold Estefan, Joseph Beuys, Marcel Broodthaers, Matthew Buckingham, Mark Dion, Stan Douglas, Andrea Geyer, Ion Grigorescu, Hans Haacke, Candida Höfer, Sanja Iveković, Alfredo Jaar, Sven Johne, Nikita Kadan, Tatiana Lecomte, Christian Kosmas Mayer, Isa Melsheimer, Mario Merz, Christian Philipp Müller, OHO Gruppe, Hélio Oiticica, Anri Sala, Sigma Gruppe, Margherita Spiluttini, Ingeborg Strobl, Sandra Vitaljić, Lois Weinberger, Christopher Williams

1/14

Exhibition View: Natural Histories. Traces of the Political
Mark Dion
The Tar Museum – Skeleton Cabinet, Lizard and Gecko & Flamingo, 2006
Photo: mumok / Klaus Pichler
Courtesy the artist and Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna

2/14

Exhibition View: Natural Histories. Traces of the Political
Mark Dion
The Tar Museum – Game Bird Group (Tar and Feathers), 2006
Courtesy the artist and Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
Photo: mumok / Klaus Pichler

3/14

Exhibition View: Natural Histories. Traces of the Political
Mark Dion
The Tar Museum – Fox, 2006
Courtesy the artist and Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
Photo: mumok / Klaus Pichler