Group Material's Infrastructural Critique Revisited in 'Mr. Nobody'

The exhibition titled 'Mr. Nobody' at Emmelines in New York, along with a building facade in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, revisits the works of the artist collective Group Material, active from 1979 to 1996. Featuring members such as Julie Ault, Tim Rollins, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and Doug Ashford, the show highlights their contributions. At Emmelines, located in the Fifth and 53rd St subway station, various ephemera adorn the walls. Enlarged contact sheets of individuals engaging with the 'Democracy Poll/Demokratische Erhebung' are displayed next to a questionnaire reflecting on Germany's future post-Berlin Wall. The exhibition emphasizes 'Subculture' (1983), which substituted subway advertisements with pieces from over a hundred artists, documented by wall texts from David Wells's 'Subway Readings' (1983/2026) and logistical papers. Noteworthy items include 'Inserts' (1988), a collection of artworks in The New York Times, and a plastic 'Shopping Bag' (1989) listing luxury capitals and arms-dealing hubs. 'Mr. Nobody' focuses on the methodology rather than the content, presenting Group Material as a historical reference for rethinking social practice and infrastructural critique. The exhibition is open from 6 June to 25 July 2026.