Curated by Inke Arns, the international group exhibition at HMKV (Hartware MedienKunstVerein) deals with forms of right-wing populism, which, especially today, use the Internet and social media to disseminate ideas. The Alt-Right Complex traces the development from a (sub)culture of transgression in online forums such as 4chan to platforms such as Breitbart News. The artists deal with memes (e.g. Pepe the Frog, probably the most famous symbol of the Trump followers), with figures such as Steve Bannon, flag worship, the prepper scene, White Supremacists and Dark Enlightenment. The exhibition is accompanied by a critical glossary containing more than 30 entries that briefly explains the most important terms. The Alt-Right Complex presents twelve projects by 16 artists from twelve countries: Paula Bulling | Anne König (DE), Simon Denny (NZ), Disnovation.org (FR/PL), Vera Drebusch & Florian Egermann (DE), Dominic Gagnon (CA), Szabolcs KissPál(HU), Boris Ondreička (SK), Milo Rau, IIPM – International Institute of Political Murder (CH/DE), Vanja Smiljanić (SR), Jonas Staal (NL), Nick Thurston (GB), Ubermorgen (CH/AT).
The HMKV is a platform for the production, presentation, and communication of contemporary and experimental (media) art. The term ‘media art’ is intended here not as a technologically defined genre, but as contemporary art that is concerned both in content and concept with the present-day world, which is profoundly influenced by media and technology. Among the Major goals of the HMKV are exploring contemporary themes and questions, addressing the wider public in its educational work, and an interdisciplinary artistic agenda.
Funded by Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Kunststiftung NRW.
- Festival
The exhibition was shown as part of the exhibition Ruhr Ding: Territorien and was on view from March 30—September 22, 2019 at Dortmunder U.