insitu collective

Framework 3: meet your idol

Helene Hellmich with – on – via – Eva Barto, Sophie Calle, Kevin Kemter, Manfred Pernice, Anna Oppermann, Jonas Mekas, Joëlle Tuerlinckx, and more

insitu Berlin
19.09.–18.10.2014

From all-time superstars to small and humble role-models, personal idols take many different forms, giving us something to be awed by and aspire to. For »Framework 3: meet your idol«, insitu collective invited the German artist Helene Hellmich to reflect on those who have influenced her practice and to present her work alongside theirs and effectively ‘meet her idol’.

Hellmich presented an ensemble that interwove her work with her so-called idols. In addition to a selection of well-known artists, Hellmich also included peers and colleagues. Taking a self-reflexive approach, Hellmich exhibited drawings of what she imagined the exhibition to look like as well as photocopies of catalogues by artists she admires and responses to other artists works through reproductions or self-built and designed installations in which to display them.

Hellmich deviated from the given framework by erasing the hierarchical meaning implied within the questions of “What is an idol?” and “What kind of relationship do I have with my idol?”. First, by proposing a long list of fellow artists, she denies the status of an idol, often understood as exclusive and beyond reach. Then, the deliberate integration of the works of the guest artists (her supposed idols) into a global installation, demonstrates how artists integrate others’ practices into their own.

»Framework 3: meet your idol« is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, a series of exhibitions on the topic of ‘relationships, networks and connections' in which insitu collective established a series of formats or 'frameworks' for invited artists and curators to respond to.

19.09.–18.10.2014

insitu Berlin (former location)
Kurfürstenstrasse 21–22, Berlin-Schöneberg

The insitu collective team and the artist would like to thank Manfred Pernice, Eva Barto, Kevin Kemter, the Galerie ARNDT representing Sophie Calle and the Galerie Barbara Thumm representing the estate of Anna Oppermann for the loan of the presented artworks.

This exhibition is part of insitu collective's Cycle II, which also included:
»Framework 1: extrasensory bonds«
»Framework 2: feel at home«
»Framework 4: across the lines«
»Framework 5: O.K. The Musical (Pre-Production) / (Dress Rehearsals)«
»Framework 6: parallelisms«

Images top - bottom:

Helene Hellmich »Books/Bücher/Livres« 2014. Courtesy the artist.

Helene Hellmich »Gedankenkarten« 2014. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

left: Helene Hellmich »Contents: Joelle Tuerlinckx« 2014; right: Kevin Kemter »Ohne Titel« 2014. Courtesy the artists. Photo: insitu e.V.

Helene Hellmich »Computer Contents , 19.06.14, 17:56:01« (detail) 2014. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

Eva Barto »Obsolète« 2014. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

Manfred Pernice »Untitled (cassette 18)« 2013. Courtesy the artist. Photo: insitu e.V.

left to right: Eva Barto »Ownership in crisis« 2013; Helene Hellmich »Gedankenkarten« 2014; Kevin Kemter »Ohne Titel« 2014. Courtesy the artists. Photo: insitu e.V.