The Museum of Contemporary Art presents the group exhibition Take Liberty!, curated by Andrea Kroksnes. Among the works on view: Ai Weiwei gives authorities the finger in Study of Perspective, Susan Hiller collects one hundred protest and freedom songs in Die Gedanken sind frei, Marianne Heier smashes a Moelven module in the installation Dear Friends and Rirkrit Tiravanija makes sausages filled with shredded copies of Thailand’s constitution in Freedom cannot be simulated.
The artworks showcased express explicit and personal struggles for freedom. Many relate specifically to freedom of expression. The artists are concerned about the opportunities and the perils of expressing themselves in a world which continues to be plagued by systematic violations of human rights.
What unifies the nearly 130 works is their focus on the individual’s aspirations for freedom and a desire for community and solidarity. Some of the contributors highlight problems, whereas others express positive perspectives and dreams. The revolutionary spirit we have seen in the numerous popular uprisings round the world in the past few years is also perceptible in many of the exhibition’s works.
Take Liberty! exhibition attempts to reflect the diversity of society – colourful, chaotic, fragmented and heterogeneous. There is no aim of being coherent. Over 20 artists and artist groups are represented in the exhibition, including John Akomfrah, Maja Bajevic, Andrea Bowers, Libia Castro & Ólafur Ólafsson, Phil Collins, Jeremy Deller, Olga Egorova and Natalya Pershina (Chto Delat), Gardar Eide Einarsson, Jihan El-Tahri, Matias Faldbakken, Rainer Ganahl, Sharon Hayes, Marianne Heier, Susan Hiller, Glenn Ligon, Jumana Manna and Sille Storihle, Aleksandra Mir, Pussy Riot, Slavs and Tatars, Superflex, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Ai Weiwei. The installation by Maja Bajevic is on display at the National Museum – Architecture.
- Artists:
John AkomfrahMaja BajevicAndrea BowersLibia Castro & Ólafur ÓlafssonPhil CollinsJeremy DellerOlga Egorova and Natalya Pershina (Chto Delat)Gardar Eide EinarssonJihan El TahriMatias FaldbakkenRainer GanahlSharon HayesMarianne HeierSusan HillerGlenn LigonJumana Manna and Sille StorihleAleksandra MirPussy RiotSlavs and TatarsSuperflexRirkrit TiravanijaAi Weiwei - Open:
Friday, 11 April 2014 - Close:
Sunday, 10 August 2014 - Address:
Bankplassen 4, Oslo - Mail:
info@nasjonalmuseet.no - Phone:
+47 21 98 20 00 - Web:
Museum of Contemporary Art - Opening hour:
Tue – Fri 11am – 5pm; Thu | 11am – 7pm; Sat – Sun | 12noon – 5pm - Closing day:
Mon - Transport:
Tram 10, 12, 13, 19 Kongens Stop; Bus: Bankplassen or Kongens Stop; Metro: Stortinget - Photo credits:
1. Maja Bajevic: To be continued; 2. Ai WeiWei: Study of Perspective; 3. John Akomfrah: The March; all photos courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Oslo.
