Joker

About

The game carves out its own place at a distance from banality. It carries its objective within itself and because of its lack of purpose it is capable of creating new worlds. The ludologist Johann Huizinga attributed the game – being a vehicle of cultural development – to a feeling of suspense and joy and an awareness of ´being different` from ´normal life`.

Art resembles a game of cards whose exact rules nobody knows. Yet all play or play poker. The artists are bidding as to what they want to show, the curators are assessing what they can show, the spectators are asking themselves what they want to love, the collectors what they will buy and the critics what they should write.

In a game of cards the Joker’s function is to fill any arbitrary place. It is unassigned to any colour, and free. It is the ´wild card` representing an advocate for all outsiders and also providing hope and help in moments of helplessness.

The Joker symbolizes the king` s jester who – as the only one – could express the truth in front of the king without having to fear consequences. This jester`s license enabled him to criticize existing conditions without being punished.

Players in art can be both Joker and Homo ludens, players with a serious duty and an important mirror of society. Their spaces of game are abyss and dreamland.

Curated by Sarah Letzel & Asja Wolf