I went to see
Taryn Simons exhibition "A Living Man Declared Dead and Other Chapters" at the
New National Gallery yesterday.
An impressive collection of tragic fates, including that of Latif Yahida (who claims that he has been the double of Saddam Husseins' son) or that of Shivdutt Yadav, who is a "living dead" in India (he has been declared dead by his relatives, in order to get his part of the legacy).
These stories are presented in short texts and clinical portraits of the leading character and his ancestors, offspring and other relatives. In addition, one can find pictures, diary entries and other material linked to the certain person's life.
Due to the adjustment (the exhibitions written part is in a very small size) one takes a look at the pictures twice, before and after having been informed about their story. This creates a very interesting effect of a normally well known issue: That your thoughts about other persons constantly change, the more you know about them.
The picture below shows the case of the in 1859 to Australia imported rabbits, which have fast become, and still are, a plaque.
 |
| -©- |
I highly recommend this exhibition to everyone who is in berlin these days, but you may wait until the 10th of October, because the permanent exhibition of the New National Gallery is closed until this date and I'm sure it will be worth a visit!
