Hyper Real – Art and America in the Early 1970s

This exhibition in Aachen presented outstanding works of American photo realism which haven't been shown in Germany in this arrangement since the early seventies. The project was the result of a unique partnership between the Ludwig Forum for International Art in Aachen, the Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna (MUMOK) and the Ludwig Múzeum Budapest.

"Hyper Real – Art and America in the Early 1970s" highlighted the artistic reflection on the "American Way of Life" in the context of sociopolitical developments, such as the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement and the Nixon era. The exhibition also emphasized how American realism was critically received in the past, for example, at the documenta 5 in Kassel in 1972. Visitors could take a look at numerous historical documents, such as posters, books, films and records, which offered an impression of everyday life in America in the 1970s.

American photo realists made a name for themselves with depictions of highly burnished images of the consumer goods industry. In addition to the extremely detailed oil paintings of polished hubcaps (Don Eddy), American RVs (Ralph Goings) and glass facades of skyscrapers (Richard Estes), the exhibition also made reference to the sociopolitical conflicts of the times. Conceptual photo art reflected the monotony of suburban life (Dan Graham) and highways (Ed Ruscha), and thrusted the ugly reality of the Vietnam War into the living rooms of the American populace (Martha Rosler). The art of photo realism was also exhibited in a number of amazingly lifelike depictions of people who are often marginalized by society (Duane Hanson). The exhibition in Aachen featured some 250 works by 100 artists.

This exhibition was jointly funded by the Federal Cultural Foundation and the Cultural Foundation of German States.

Curators: Dr. Brigitte Franzen, Anna Sophia Schultz
Artists: Lewis Baltz, Don Eddy, William Eggleston, Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Dan Graham, Duane Hanson, Stephen Shore, Martha Rosler, Ed Ruscha, Gary Winogrand a.o.