Adel Abidin’s video work Michael is a satirical depiction of the fan culture of our time
The resurrected star, Michael, is being interviewed on a TV show streamed on huge screens in New York’s Times Square. Thousands of fans have gathered to listen to the sage words of their idol. Michael replies to questions mysteriously, using only lyrics from his well-known songs.
By satirising the fan-culture of our time, the work explores the role and significance of celebrities. The pop star is portrayed as a prophet followed blindly by his fans. The star’s status is reinforced by the media industry built around idolization. At the same time, the video is a sarcastic mirror-image of this day and age when even idols are consumed until nothing is left.
Iraqi-Finnish Adel Abidin (b.1973) is a multimedia artist who explores cultural collisions and power relations. His works often employ imageries borrowed from popular culture. Abidin’s works have been presented in multiple international exhibitions like Venice Biennale (2007- Nordic Pavilion, 2011 Iraq Pavilion, 2015 Iran Pavilion and Glass-Stress International Exhibition). Abidin was awarded with The Finland Award for Visual Arts 2015 and he was an Ars Fennica nominee 2011. His works are included in many public and private collections in Finland and around the world.
The work is part of Finnish National Gallery’s Collection in Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma.
Duration: 18 min 15 sec.
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EMMA – Espoon modernin taiteen museon kokoelma- ja näyttelytoiminta profiloituu kotimaiseen ja kansainväliseen modernismiin, nykytaiteeseen sekä designiin. EMMA sijaitsee Espoon Tapiolassa, professori Aarno Ruusuvuoren suunnittelemassa betoniarkkitehtuuria edustavassa Näyttelykeskus WeeGeessä. Näyttelytilat ovat pinta-alaltaan Suomen suurimmat, ja pelkistetty moderni arkkitehtuuri tukee EMMAn, Saastamoisen säätiön ja Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Säätiön kokoelmien sekä vaihtuvien näyttelyiden kokemuksellista esittämistä. Tervetuloa!
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INBJUDAN till media: Presskonferens för utställning Tschabalala Self: Från samma kvarter, tisdagen den 7 maj kl. 10 på EMMA23.4.2024 13:30:00 EEST | Kutsu
EMMA i samarbete med Saastamoinen Stiftelsen är stolta att kunna presentera Från samma kvarter, den amerikanska konstnären Tschabalala Selfs första utställning i Finland. Varmt välkommen på presskonferens för att höra konstnären berätta om utställningen.
INVITATION for media: Press event for Tschabalala Self: Around the Way on Tuesday 7 May at 10 am in EMMA23.4.2024 13:30:00 EEST | Press Invitation
EMMA, in collaboration with the Saastamoinen Foundation, is delighted to present Around the Way the first solo exhibition in Finland by the US artist Tschabalala Self. Warmly welcome to the press preview at EMMA to hear about the exhibition from the artist.
KUTSU medialle: Tschabalala Self: Samasta korttelista -näyttelyn tiedotustilaisuus ti 7.5. klo 10.00 EMMAssa23.4.2024 13:30:00 EEST | Kutsu
EMMA ja Saastamoisen säätiö ylpeinä esittelevät yhdysvaltalaisen taiteilija Tschabalala Selfin ensimmäisen näyttelyn Suomessa, nimeltä Samasta korttelista. Lämpimästi tervetuloa tiedotustilaisuuteen kuulemaan näyttelystä taiteilijalta.
Offentliggörande: I Japan ses för första gången en omfattande separatutställning av Tapio Wirkkala. Utställningen turnerar på flera olika utställningsplatser under 2025–20269.4.2024 11:30:00 EEST | Tiedote
Tapio Wirkkalas första separatutställning i Japan, The Sculptor of Ultima Thule, turnerar på flera olika utställningsplatser under 2025–2026. Utställningen erbjuder en bred översikt över Wirkkalas ikoniska produktion, unika designprocess och landskapen i Lappland och Venedig som inspirerade honom.
Announcement: First major solo exhibition of Tapio Wirkkala set to tour in Japan in 2025–20269.4.2024 11:30:00 EEST | Press release
Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima Thule exhibition will be seen in several venues in Japan during 2025–2026, marking the first major solo exhibition of Wirkkala in Japan. The exhibition will present a complete picture of the iconic Finnish designer, centring on Wirkkala’s unique creative process, with a special focus on his creative mind and the environments that inspired him.
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