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28.3.2021 – 25.7.21.2021

«La lumière qui fait le bonheur»

KINDL - Berlin

The assemblages by the Beninese artist Georges Adéagbo follow the life courses and fates of people using the traces they leave behind: objects and documents attest to encounters and individual decisions. By having craftsmen in Benin produce paintings and sculptures based on photos and printed items collected on his travels, the artist opens up new perspectives on the seemingly familiar and challenges visitors to examine clichéd ideas and stereotypes. Adéagbo’s installations are always site-specific and dissolve hierarchies: all things are of equal importance to him. In his work, phenomena from pop culture transport stories just as much as canonised high culture: antiques from Benin can be found alongside “airport kitsch”, records by Beethoven alongside carnival music, commissioned oil paintings alongside reproductions from art history. Georges Adéagbo’s practice is an open system that is meant to be augmented and transformed by the viewers and challenges the conventional aesthetics of cohesive works as well as the singular icon acclaimed by the art market.

For his most extensive solo exhibition to date, Adéagbo is developing an installation at the KINDL that will occupy the entire exhibition space, drawing on elements from central works created during his DAAD artists' residence in Berlin 2006-7 such as "Tout de moi à tous" (2007) and "Une espace avec le monde" (2007) and updating them with found objects from Neukölln and the KINDL archives.

Curated by Kathrin Becker in cooperation with Stephan Köhler/Kulturforum Sud-Nord

a large space with a persian carpet in the center, on the walls vitrines with objects, textiles, records and posters
2021 KINDL Berlin Georges Adéagbo La Lumière qui fait le bonheur Photo: Jens Ziehe ©Georges Adéagbo

"The light that brings good luck" From 28.3.21 – 25.7.21. Partly closed due to COVID19. KINDL produced a six minute documentary film about Adéagbo creating this symphonic assemblage, following his foot-steps to thrift-shops in Neu-Kölln You will find a link to the film and a conversation with Bénédicte Savoy on:

kindl-berlin.com
in a large space a wooden figure with four faces, in the background a flag of the GDR and a vitrine with numerous objects.
2021 KINDL Berlin Georges Adéagbo La Lumière qui fait le bonheur Photo: Jens Ziehe ©Georges Adéagbo
two walls in a large space with dozens of objects: used textiles, posters, hand-painted banners, books on the floor around the ledges
2021 KINDL Berlin Georges Adéagbo La Lumière qui fait le bonheur Photo: Jens Ziehe ©Georges Adéagbo