Queer exhibition Limp at Galerie Emanuel Layr explores transgressive imagery and representation
Curated by Paul Clinton, the exhibition Limp was held at Galerie Emanuel Layr in Vienna from 13 September to 31 October 2019, as part of the 'Curated by' festival. It showcased the work of seven artists who delved into themes of queer representation and imagery. Michael Curran's film Amami Se Vuoi (1994) draws inspiration from Jean Genet's Miracle of the Rose and Todd Haynes's Poison. Richard John Jones's The Nightmare Having A Nightmare (2017) features banners depicting bare-assed men. Liz Rosenfeld's video liz/james/stillholes (2005/2017) examines gender distinctions within lesbian and gay cultures. Additionally, Robert Blanchon's supercut let's just kiss + say goodbye (1995) critiques male fantasies. The exhibition also displayed early General Idea pieces and a vitrine of queer-theory literature, challenging the portrayal of queer imagery.
Key facts
- Exhibition Limp ran 13 September – 31 October 2019
- Curated by Paul Clinton at Galerie Emanuel Layr in Vienna
- Part of Vienna's 'Curated by' festival
- Featured seven artists or collectives
- Includes Michael Curran's 1994 film Amami Se Vuoi
- References Jean Genet's 1946 novel Miracle of the Rose
- Includes Richard John Jones's 2017 installation The Nightmare Having A Nightmare (After Ingo Swann)
- Features Liz Rosenfeld's 2005/2017 video liz/james/stillholes
- Includes Robert Blanchon's 1995 supercut let's just kiss + say goodbye
- Show includes early General Idea works and queer-theory texts
- Examines whether transgressive queer imagery silos minorities or excludes straights
- Works reference Todd Haynes's 1991 film Poison
- Video mentions theorist Judith Butler
- Robert Blanchon's work references AIDS epidemic
- Exhibition avoids sentimentality and cheap thrills
Entities
Artists
- Michael Curran
- Paul Clinton
- Richard John Jones
- Liz Rosenfeld
- Robert Blanchon
- Jean Genet
- Todd Haynes
- Judith Butler
Institutions
- Galerie Emanuel Layr
- ArtReview
- General Idea
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria