Jean-Ulrick Désert: Solo Exhibition Conspicuous Invisibility
Renowned conceptual and visual artist Jean-Ulrick Désert was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Wi Di Mimba Wi: The AKB & SAVVY Contemporary Commission Prize.
Désert's body of work is a testament to its remarkable breadth and ingenious nature. Over the course of several decades, his artistic contributions in Germany have not only shaped spaces but also sparked crucial questions and practices within the art world. In recognition of his ongoing dedication, Désert's remarkable journey will be celebrated through the exhibition titled "Conspicuous Invisibility—Works 1997–2023."
📍 SAVVY Contemporary
📍 Reinickendorfer Straße 17
📍 13347 Berlin, Deutschland
📆 June 15–July 16, 2023
⏰ Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 2-7pm
More information about the event: HERE
This much-anticipated solo exhibition presents a unique opportunity to experience the convergence of Jean-Ulrick Désert's artistic and intellectual prowess, as it intertwines with his personal narratives, biographies, and thought-provoking explorations of history.
The exhibition delves into the artist's captivating experiences, traversing the realms of race, ethnicity, diaspora, and the emotions that shape them. By delving into the themes of displacement, "unvisibility," and shame, Désert's creative output since 1997 takes center stage in a selection of works that are both thought-provoking and delightful, confrontational and shy. Through storytelling, critique, humor, intelligence, and investigation, the exhibition illuminates artistic positions that are often obscured, allowing them to shine with resplendent visibility—an embodiment of what Désert refers to as "conspicuous invisibility."
An integral part of the exhibition is "The Archive/a work in progress," an interactive commission utilizing augmented reality to access colonial artifacts from the West African collection of the Ethnologisches Museum in Dahlem. By navigating the delicate balance between opacity and transparency, Désert offers a tangible representation of the concept of permanence and the task of bringing forth the presence of contaminated objects within today's discursive industry.
This exploration reflects upon the ethico-political implications of decolonization in museology, art, knowledge production, and broader cultural contexts. Through personal encounters and intoxicating experiences, the exhibition engages with themes such as restitution, abolition, and the complexities of cultural exchange. Désert's archival exposure reconstructs colonial narratives, inviting viewers to analyze and appreciate the poetics and visuality embedded within.
Curated by Renan Laru-an, alongside Hubert Gromny and Mokia Laisin, the exhibition seamlessly weaves together various timelines and overlapping passages in Désert's artistic journey. It serves as a sanctuary for emotions, immersing viewers in an ecological tapestry of objects and surfaces drawn from the artist's conceptions of the Black, archipelagic Caribbean.
Utilizing the power of "ugly feelings" as agency, Conspicuous Invisibility employs imperceptible teases to challenge dominant cultures, serving as an alluring, troubling, and flirtatious wink in the face of difference.
Collaboration and funding: The project is generously supported by AKB Stiftung, a foundation based in Einbeck, Germany. Established by Carl-Ernst Büchting in 1998. The production of “The Archive/ a work in progress” was made possible through Stiftung Kunstfonds (NEUSTART KULTUR-Stipendium für bildende Künstler:innen).
Support: With thanks to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ethnologisches Museum, Fachreferat Afrika, in supporting the new work “The Archive/ a work in progress”.
A second part of this exhibition will be on view from July 6–August 6, 2023 at Titatink Galleria in Turku, Finland, curated by Mirjami Schuppert.
Jean-Ulrick Désert
Jean-Ulrick Désert, a Haitian-born conceptual and visual artist based in Berlin, creates diverse artworks, including public billboards, actions, paintings, sculptures, videos, and art objects. Deeply engaged with social and cultural practices, his thought-provoking and poetic projects have been exhibited worldwide at renowned venues such as The Grand Palais in France, The Brooklyn Museum, The Studio Museum of Harlem, Walker Art Center in the USA, and various galleries and biennials.
Désert has received awards, public commissions, and philanthropic support, including LMCC (USA), Villa Waldberta-Munich, Kulturstiftung der Länder (Germany), and Cité des Arts (France). With a background in architecture from Cooper Union and Columbia University, he has lectured and critiqued at prestigious institutions in the United States, Germany, and France. Désert's exceptional talent led him to represent the Haiti pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019).
More about the artist: HERE