The artist Rainer Ganahl addresses exploitation by comparing the preindustrial way of producing woolen products with the products and processes using computer-aided knitting maschines. His aim is “to raise consciousness about the manifold complicated hidden production processes that enter the consumer products we purchase at department stores for little money” (http://strangeteaching.info/porto_exploitation.html, see also: http://ganahl.info).
“MANHATTAN MARXISM / WOOL WORKS / EXPLOITATION
STRANGE TEACHING / WOOL WORKS / EXPLOITATIONa project developed for PANORAMA BOA VISTA, Porto, Portugal, March 2017
FROM PRESS RELEASE:
Rainer Ganahl – Manhattan Marxism / Wool Works / Exploitation / Strange Teaching / Wool Works / Exploitation – Opening Wednesday, Apr 12, 10pm
In this exhibition, Rainer Ganahl combines his projects Manhattan Marxism and Strange Teaching, emphasizing the aspect of exploitation. …
Manhattan Marxism has previously taken place at Kunstmuseum Lichtenstein (2012), White Columns, New York (2013), and De Vleshaal, Middelburg (2014). Ganahl is interested in Karl Marx as a theoretician and as a metaphor for a more just world. He is interested in convivial spaces to be shared with others.
His guiding idea for the Porto edition of Manhattan Marxism consists of working with wool in a preindustrial way. The students spin, make felt and produce works from scratch that compare and compete with five machine-knitted pieces that are made possible with the help of STOLLs knitting computers. The work process is documented and quantified. Thus, it is meant to raise consciousness about the manifold complicated hidden production processes that enter the consumer products we purchase at department stores for little money. Like a Do It Yourself (Marxian) superstructure, a series of guest lectures with visiting local and international artists and critics, as well a presentation by the participating students, accompany the hard and restless labor of the unpaid work program.
Ganahl’s exhibition is complemented with a separate show of works by the selection of students from the AbK-Stuttgart and FBAU Porto who volunteered to be “exploited” by the artist.” (Source: http://strangeteaching.info/porto_exploitation.html; the picture you may find here: http://strangeteaching.info/strange/mm_marx_0677s.jpg; Danke an Hannes für den Hinweis).
