Use Me, Abuse Me
New York Photo Festival
Use Me, Abuse Me begins with Erik Kessels’ a posteriori observation that easy access to photography tools and software results in quicker, more facile modes of image production, consumption and disposal. Perhaps a condition of this state, a plethora of photographers and image-makers are experimenting with pre-existing images and using them within their own work on an unprecedented scale. Photographs are variously collected, reinterpreted, cut, copied, pasted and generally abused.
Erik Kessels’ show is about how images and image-making technology influence artists and photographers. Use Me, Abuse Me explores several questions, including: Where will image-making take us? Will all existing photography be endlessly recycled? Will we soon see more photographers taking fewer photographs? How far can we stretch the medium of photography?
Artists: Ruth Van Beek, Batia Suter, Paul Kooiker, Lucas Blalock, Linus Bill, Renato Leotta, Gwon Osang, Marcel Gaehler, Eva-Fiore Kovacovsky, Claudia Sola, Asha Schechter, Joachim Schmid, Chantal Rens, Sanja Médic and Thomas Mailaender.
Exhibition: May 12 – 16, 2010