Blog3-The Problem Perspective at MOCA

After seeing the Martin Kippenberg: The Problem Perspective exhibition at the MOCA Grande I am left feeling only half satisfied.

Going into the show I knew very little about the artist other than he was a German artist. I was drawn to the show because I really liked one of the photographs that was used on the advertisement of Martin standing in St Mark’s Square in Venice. He is dressed in a handsome suit with pigeons all around him and one sits on his head and one on his shoulder. I also saw the other self portrait painting that was used in the ads of Martin in a fur jacket and sheriff's hat standing in front of a sign with the DDR posters up and a sign saying, “Souvenirs.” I was drawn to these self-portraits because of their sense of story and slight social commendatory. The one in Venice really struck me because it reminded me of Venice and their pigeon problem. The pigeons are so iconic in St Marks Square. Tourists, I have no idea why, love to feed them. However their population is out of control and it has caused a large problem for the city’s ecosystem. The Venetian government made it illegal to feed the pigeons anywhere in Venice except in St. Mark’s Square as an attempt to control the problem. The picture is also ironic because Martin is dressed in this gorgeous expensive suit, and “fare la bella figurea,” as Italians do yet he gladly has all these dirty pigeons on him.

When I went to the exhibition I expected to see more self-portraits and works of this nature, but did not. I loved the sketches that he did on hotel stationary throughout his travels scattered throughout the exhibition. It was interesting to think of all the places he went and to imagine him sitting in all this different hotel room, sketching or watercolor painting.

I was disappointed mostly because the picture from Venice that I loved so much from all the ads was very small and part of this huge collage so it was difficult to really see it very well. I felt slightly tricked by the ads because I expected it to be larger and also for they’re to be more photography in the show

I thought it was interesting to consider that Martin created a lot of the work around the time that Berlin Wall was up and unlike a lot of other German artists working at this time his work didn’t become dark and gloomy. Instead he chose to work in bright colors while still dealing with the idea of restricted freedom like in his piece Put Your Freedom in the Corner, Save it for a Rainy Day (1990) and With the Best Will in the World, I Can’t See a Swastika (1984.)

I am glad I went to the show, however every time I go to the MOCA and they aren’t showing any of their permanent collection I feel slightly jeped. The MOCA has such a rich collection of art and although I know they don’t have the gallery space to show their collection and exhibitions, I still always leave feeling like I am missing something.