Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein has invited American artist Tony Cokes (b. 1956 in Richmond, Virginia) to engage in a dialogue with the collection. Tony Cokes is known especially for his unique video works: he combines quotes from a range of texts with bright colours and pop music to create precisely edited video essays that appeal to both our bodies and minds.
Like a DJ, Cokes samples and remixes fragments gleaned from the world of popular culture and mass media with the aim of subverting prevalent codes. Since the late 1980s, the artist has critiqued media and power relations, racism and consumer behaviour. Along with social media, his sources include found footage, journalistic and philosophical writings. He has recently widened his focus to include the history and reception of conceptual art and minimalism.
Let yourself be free presents a number of the artist's light boxes, writings and video installations (including one from the museum's own holdings) with a new commission and a selection of works by various artists from the collection. A characteristic feature of the exhibition and Cokes' work is the principle of (unexpected) juxtaposition, remixing and reinterpreting.
(A production of Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, curated by Letizia Ragaglia. The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive publication)