Atlanten – Ich oder das Chaos, Posterbook Presentation
Franz Kapfer, A. H. wieder da (1998)

Franz Kapfer’s artist’s book is being published as part of the exhibition Ich oder das Chaos and can be seen as a reflection and representation of the artist’s current work. The publication reflects his interest in historical and contemporary symbols of the representation of power as well as his interest in research, and inspiring journeys. For a long time through, the renowned curator and author Roger M. Buergel has been familiar with Kapfer’s work mutual exchange and wrote the text for this publication. The artist book is also characterized by some special features in terms of material and format: The graphics designed by the artist are printed as risoprints, a type of screen print produced for the edition. The artist’s posters are obtained by unfolding the image pages.

The video A. H. wieder da! (1998) served as the starting point for the writer Roger M. Buergel’s accompanying text for the artist’s book being published on the occasion of the exhibition. The work is a very early central piece in Kapfer’s oeuvre, reflecting the performative approach in his work. He slips into the role of the ​“Führer” himself, whom he grotesquely reproduces in order to refer to the burgeoning right-wing populism of the time.

Buergel writes: ​“The video (A.H. wieder da!, 1998) is funny, on the one hand. Viewed through the lens of history, much of what was bloody serious more than half a century earlier seems ridiculous. On the other hand, Kapfer’s performance testifies to a survival, a not being able to die, perhaps also a not wanting to die. It bears witness to a myth, though it is not clear what keeps it alive. Or is there such a thing as the fascist primal instinct?”

The screening attempts to show this early work in the context of the large exhibition in order to illustrate further facets of Kapfer’s artistic work and to create a rare opportunity to show Kapfer’s cinematic oeuvre to the public through further video works such as ​“Was den Menschen nicht umbringt, macht ihn stärker”, Paliano 1999 (What doesn’t kill people makes them stronger), thus adding another key work to the group assembled in the exhibition. On this evening, we will attempt to build a bridge over 25 years of Kapfer’s work by taking a look at both the artist’s book and his cinematic oeuvre, linking one of Kapfer’s first works with the most recent ones.