The Romeos
2008
Other
Materials: Poster and performance
Collection: Courtesy of the Artist.
The poster on the wall with the looks of a fashion ad or a boy band album cover is part of a work titled The Romeos. The photographed men (maybe not only them) are the Romeos described in the text of the poster. Photographed in M HKA exclusively for the exhibition, you, as a visitor of the museum, may encounter some of the men in the poster. You may encounter one or two of them, have a kind and amusing chat, perhaps casually exchange some information on the exhibition or about yourselves, and who knows, maybe start a friendship. The title of this performance was inspired by a Cold War strategy designed by East German spymaster Markus Wolf. The similarities between the performance and the Cold War strategy are not only the name but also the possibility to activate real affection among strangers. Would you still believe in these affects if you were aware that they are somehow negotiated and scripted? The Romeos proves that it is possible to generate authentic care and fondness even if the other person in the relationship has entered it as part of a contract or as a job.
First presented at Frieze Art Fair, London (2008)
