John Bock's 2007 Exhibition at Regen Projects Features Absurdist Video and Trash Sculptures

John Bock presented an exhibition at Regen Projects in 2007, featuring a central video work titled Frau im Hotel (2006). The show included trash sculptures, framed drawings from sketchbooks, and a makeshift theater constructed with nylon drop cloths and ropes. Bock's background in both art and economics informs his practice, which embraces misunderstanding and absurdity. His performances often involve improvised lectures using collected junk, blending aesthetics, politics, science, economics, and pop culture. The video depicts a young woman in a hotel room vacillating between a chocolate cake and diet pills, with cinematography recalling religious painting and renaissance portraiture. Bock's work has been compared to Kurt Schwitters and Cy Twombly, exploring themes of meaninglessness and simulation in contemporary culture. The exhibition allowed for a general assessment of his varied practice, highlighting his frenetic energy and intellectual force. Andrew Berardini wrote about the exhibition for Afterall, noting its reflection on academic and cultural breakdowns.