Blurring the lines between installation and exhibition, or indeed, immersion and presentation, the ongoing collaboration between artist, Michael Schindhelm, and art space, Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger, enters phase two on August 30th.
Artists have long sought to control the ambience. In Schindhelm’s case, the key point is scale. With the full sweep of a multi-room complex to work upon, the opportunity for exuberant and ambitious statements muscles through. Having devoted the first part of his residency at the Basel site to examining the nuances of life extension philosophies (see Life by Extension), Schindhelm brings his filmmaker’s exacting vision to the second of his large-scale works at the venue with ROOTS.
Extract from the press release:
The Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger is set to unveil the groundbreaking project titled ROOTS from August 30 to November 17, 2024. This immersive experience promises to bring together Bali’s rich history, vibrant culture, and captivating artwork within the galleries. This is the foundation’s second site-specific immersive project in its year-long collaboration with the author, filmmaker, and curator Michael Schindhelm.
The exhibition revolves around the fascinating figure of Russian-born German artist Walter Spies (1895 – 1942), whose influence on Bali’s cultural landscape reverberates today. Spies’ legacy is deeply intertwined with Bali’s contemporary narrative, and ROOTS aims to show his profound impact while exploring the island’s postcolonial legacy over the last century. Walter Spies in Bali in the 1920s At the heart of ROOTS lies Villa Iseh, a retreat built by Spies in 1937 in Iseh, Karangasem. Initially a sanctuary for Spies, it later became a renowned destination for the rich and famous, including David Bowie, Yoko Ono, and Mick Jagger. Visitors will be invited to explore the villa’s maze of rooms, from the reception to bedrooms, corridors, living areas, and a pool room. The exhibition will examine the themes of mass tourism, environmental degradation, and the complex interplay of cultural identities in Bali.
Highlights include works by the painter Made Bayak and the graphic artist Gus Dark, who explore the Balinese struggle to preserve their cultural identity amidst contemporary challenges, along with a number of films and installations that will present pivotal moments in Balinese history, including the 1965 genocide.
Excerpts from Michael Schindhelm’s docu-fiction film ROOTS will accompany the exhibition. The film resurrects Walter Spies as a spectral presence navigating Bali’s modern landscape. Through encounters with Balinese artists and luminaries, the ghost of Spies grapples with his own legacy and the enduring impact of Western civilization on the island. Visitors will be invited to accompany him on his journey across today’s island, 99 years after the painter’s first visit.
Michael Schindhelm says, “The exhibition Roots and the docufiction of the same name are to be understood as a collective memory project that deals with an important aspect of Bali’s post-colonial history: the influence of Western modern culture on Balinese cultural traditions. The chequered history of Walter Spies on the island and its after-effects on the subsequent transformation of Bali into a global tourism destination are understood as a ‘shared heritage’. Together with protagonists of Balinese culture today, Roots attempts to place the legacy left by Walter Spies in its historical context and at the same time to understand its significance for the development of Bali today.”
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. – Aristotle
