Rirkrit Tiravanija

The survey exhibition “Rirkrit Tiravanija: Fortune Isn’t Always Funny”, organised by the Gropius Bau, presents four decades of works by Rirkrit Tiravanija (*1961, Buenos Aires). The first major retrospective of the Thai artist in Germany is made possible in cooperation with MoMA of New York and contains around 100 items including works on paper, sculptures, photographs and some rarely shown Super-8 films. Tiravanija’s time-based works are largely devoted to radically scrutinising the Western notion of art museums. Especially in Berlin, he was celebrated for his avant-garde positions early in his career and influenced the city’s art scene in the 1990s. Tiravanija is an important representative of affective art, which animates the public to engage in social interaction. His pieces often focus on creating a shared multisensory experience. He became known for exhibitions which were temporarily designed as stages or kitchens, in which the viewing public would perform music, cook or eat Thai curry together.

In keeping with Tiravanija’s artistic practice, the exhibition at the Gropius Bau explores the accessibility of cultural institutions and participatory art beyond the traditional exhibition formats. Among other highlights, the artist has set up 15 ping pong tables in the freely accessible atrium of the Gropius Bau where visitors are invited to play. Other pieces make reference to Germany and the former “guest workers” who live there, or address issues related to social differences and cultural belonging. The exhibition is supplemented by a lecture and discussion series, free guided tours and a publication.

Project manager: Jenny Schlenzka
Curators: Ruba Katrib, Yasmil Raymond
Artist: Rirkrit Tiravanija

Exhibition: Gropius Bau, Berlin: 12 Sep. 2024 –12 Jan. 2025