Germany
Leipzig
2019
27
German
English, German
In a nutshell
The exhibition critically examines the evolution of mass mobilization and crowd dynamics in both historical and contemporary contexts, drawing inspiration from Elias Canetti’s “Crowds and Power.” Set against the backdrop of the GfZK’s new architectural space, the exhibition engages with the complexities of collective action, exploring how digital public spheres shape democratic participation while simultaneously being exploited for exclusionary practices. Featuring a rich array of video installations and cinematic works, including the new production “70.001,” which reimagines the 1989 Leipzig demonstrations, “Majorities” invites reflection on the nuances of social behavior and the implications of simulated experiences in gaming and surveillance. Through this thoughtful presentation, Wedemeyer prompts us to consider the intertwining narratives of isolation and community, resonating powerfully in today’s fragmented society.
Why should you watch this?
Watching this guided tour is crucial in our current landscape marked by digital polarization and the resurgence of mass movements. As societies grapple with issues of identity, representation, and exclusion within online spaces, this exhibition offers a vital framework for understanding how crowd dynamics shape our collective psyche and political discourse. In an age where social media can amplify divisive ideologies, gaining insights into the historical and psychological underpinnings of mass mobilization is essential. The tour encourages participants to critically examine how these dynamics operate today, heightening awareness of the fine line between community engagement and manipulation. By exploring these themes, viewers are invited to reflect on their agency within the digital public sphere, making the experience not just an exploration of art and history, but also a compelling call to engage thoughtfully in the ongoing dialogue about democracy and social responsibility in our interconnected world.
Curators(s)
Anna Jehle Franciska Zólyom
BioFranciska Zólyom studied art history and worked as a curator at the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art in Budapest. From 2006 to 2009 she was the Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art – Dunaújváros, Hungary. She worked together with international artists on site- and context-related projects, initiating and fostering artistic research on local history and on the spatialization of ideologies. Since 2012 she has been the director of GfZK – Museum of Contemporary Art Leipzig. She is a member of the University Council of the Bauhaus University Weimar and of the Cultural Senate of Saxony.
Artist(s)
Clemens von Wedemeyer
BioClemens von Wedemeyer, born in 1974 in Göttingen, is a prominent German video artist and professor of media art at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig. He studied photography and media at the Fachhochschule Bielefeld and the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, graduating as Meisterschüler under Astrid Klein. His films and installations have been showcased globally, including dOCUMENTA (13), the 16th Biennale of Sydney, and MoMA PS1. Recent exhibitions include Im Kontext der Sammlung at Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein and BAKHMUT at Albertinum Dresden (2023).
