'Clothes for Living and Dying' brings together two interrelated projects 'Graduation Dresses' and 'Clothes for Death' in order to explore the significance and role of clothing in two rites of passage: graduations and funerals.
A fully illustrated catalogue with essays by Pennina Barnett, Dr Alex Rotas, Matthew Shaul and Margareta Kern.Catalogue available from UH Galleries, T: 01707 284290, from Amazon, or by contacting the artist directly.
The exhibition reviews (selection):
Review 'Female Jesus of the photographer Margareta Kern' by Miljenko Jergovic, for Jutarnji List (The Morning Post, Zagreb, May 2008). Full article in Croatian/English.
The element of ambiguity Kern feels on her return is evident in these photographs. There is a sense of transience experienced on both sides of the lens, a mutual searching for identity....The most telling of the photographs, however, are the 'Clothes for Death'. Likened in the catalogue to memento mori or vanitas, these are poignant and affecting images in which eight elderly women are portrayed alongside the skirts, blouses and headscarves they will only wear when dead. A record of the most intimate of wardrobes, a form of trousseau for death, these photographs are as much about life as its ending; content, vulnerable, resolute, uncertain, proud and layered with texture.June Hill, for Embroidery, July-August 2009
People who have witnessed traumatic social and political upheaval gaze with what seems like fearless resignation, not just at Kern's lens, but towards the event for which they have prepared their outfit.Tina Jackson for Metro, Bradford, review: 4 stars, June 2009
A young woman stands in her inexpensive copy of the draped gold dress Keira Knightley wore to the British premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean II. It should be a shoddy image of consumer capitalism but actually it's heart-breaking. ... Kern is more interested in the politics of fashion than clothing per se. But there is a lingering pleasure to the 'textileness' of the pictures. ... There is a quiet heroism to these older citizens anticipating the end of life - a voyage to the unknown. ... Photography can be intrusive, but there is respectfulness to the images, a sense of care. Liz Hoggard, for Selvedge, Issue 27, Mar/April 2009
This performance within The Courtauld Institute of Art is part of East Wing VIII: On Time.
To download the publicity poster in pdf please click here. www.eastwing8.com
2008 Back to Heritage
St Donat church, Zadar, Croatia
Artists:
Zvjezdana Jembrih (Croatia) , Margareta Kern (UK/Bosnia/Croatia), Luise Kloos (Austria), Branko Lenic (Croatia), Edita Matan (Croatia), David Skerlj (Italy), Rene Stessl (Austria), Leon Zakrajsek (Slovenia).
Artists: Alen Basic, Isak Berbic, Zlatko Cosic, Sejla Kameric, Margareta Kern, Damir Niksic and Nebojsa Seric Shoba Curated by Dr. Jeffrey Hughes and Dana Turkovic
The Performance Panel is led by the artist Lois Weaver and writer Adrian Heathfield and brings together the artists Guillermo Gómez-Peña (Mexico/USA), Jenny Sealey (UK), Adalet R Garmiany (Kurdistan-Iraq/UK), Margareta Kern (Croatia/Bosnia/UK), John Jordan (UK), Ange Taggart (UK), and Arvand DashtAray and Sara Reyhani of Virgule Performing Arts Company (Iran) for presentations, creative interventions, and discussions around questions of performance and human rights.
The artist has depicted all her subjects with great dignity, allowing the images to speak for themselves, creating a real sense of these women's lives as well as their preparations for their deaths." Review by Edward Adam, for a-n magazine, Nov 2007 issue, read more.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Measures Of Distance by Mona Hatoum / Radionica (Coffee & Desa) by Margareta Kern / Haroldinho by Harold Offeh / Eyeballing by Rosalind Nashashibi and The Cave by Wael Shawky.
MAPPING CONSTRAINT: Territories by Isaac Julien / Sideways by Lucy Harris and Legacy by Inge Blackman.
2007
Renoir Cinema, London 26th June 2007 @ 6.30pm
Screening of Radionica (comprised of short films 'Coffee' & 'Desa')
Artists: Oreet Ashery, Giuseppe DiBella, Mandy Lee Jandrell and Margareta Kern. Curated by Dinu Li
Group show reflecting on the concept of democracy, and how this thought provoking term is interpreted in today’s society. 2007 PureScreen 17, The Sun Always Shines On the Righteous at the Bureau Gallery, Manchester Screening Radionica / Workshop (Comprised of 2 Films; Coffee & Desa)
Artists: Jordan Baseman, Stuart Gurden, Alexander Heim, Esther Johnson, Margareta Kern, t c McCormack, Jeremy Newman. Curated by Sophia Crilly. PureScreen is Castlefield Gallery's regular screening event. 2007 Betsey's Salon: Betsey Couture, London Screening of newly edited footage from Radionica / Workshop and performance.
Artists: Marloes ten Bhomer, Amy Cunningham, Ioannis Dimitrousis, Margareta Kern, Ofra Shelef and Simon Thorogood. Discussion led by Peppe Orru. Curated by Michal Sapir and Uriel Orlow.
Artists: Ori Gersht, Sunil Gupta, Michael Samuels and Margareta Kern. Curated by Melanie Lenz. Making Journeys brings together four contemporary international artists whose works explore literal and metaphorical journeys. 2005 Necessary Journeys, Tate Modern, London Showcasing new work made during the travel bursary awarded by the Arts Council England and the British Film Institute.
Artists: Oreet Ashery, Fernando Arias, Ralph Hoyte, Jackie Kay, Margareta Kern, Dinu Li, susan pui san lok, Jiva Parthipa, Keith Piper and and Trevor Woolery. Necessary Journey showcase can be seen here 2005 KnotWorks, The Blue Elephant Theatre, London
Artists: Edina Husanovic, Suzana Tamamovic and Margareta Kern
Group exhibition by three contemporary artists, who weave, bake and stretch perceptions of traditional crafts and its relationship to gender, within the cultural contexts of the Balkans. 2004/2005 When in Rome, touring exhibition: Third Floor Art Centre, Portsmouth; Castlefield Gallery, Manchester; Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham and Habitat, Exeter. Curated by Raimi Gbadamosi.
Artists: Hurvin Anderson, Daniel Baker, Ansuman Biswas, Suki Chan, Wilma Ehni, Nooshin Farhid, Amanda Francis, Raimi Gbadamosi, Takafumi Homma, Ronee Hui, Silia KaTung, Margareta Kern, Maria Meade, Agnes Poitevin-Navarre, Paul o'Kane, Harold Offeh, Sadia Ur-Rehman, Raymond Yap 2005 600/60/6/6 Great Eastern Hotel, London (Bankok/Berlin/Los Angeles/Manila/Saigon)
Artists: Ivan Coleman, Eldina Begic, Bill Blanco, Raimi Gbadamosi, Miranda Gavin, Wanda Hu, Marcus Kern, Margareta Kern, David Ramkalawon. Curated by Sara Haq
Group photography show exploring the potential of digital networking specifically in curating entirely through the internet. 2005 Ricky Romain & Margareta Kern, White Space Gallery, Axminster
Paintings by Ricky Romain and Standard Class Opinions, photographic installation by Kern; both works reflect on issues around alienation, migration and journeying. 2004 Para-Sites, Bridport Art Centre, Bridport
Artists: Al and Al, Han E. Dehlinger, John Nassari, Margareta Kern, Brigid McLeer, Ansuman Biswas and Jen Finer, Liadin Cooke, Fiona Crisp, Gillian Wylde, Katie Holten, Rona Lee. Curated by Brigid McLeer.
Group show exploring spaces, memory, and location. 2004 Tito's Angels, Waterloo Eurostar Terminal
Performative intervention, handing out red star cookies to the passengers.
Tito's Angels is an on-going collaboration between Margareta Kern, Suzana Tamamovic and Belma Lugic.
2004/2005 The Waiting Room, North & East London surgeries
Group show of the work specifically responding to the space of the surgery waiting rooms. www.driftaway.iofm.net
2003/2006 Leave to Remain, Central Space, London; BBC London - Marylebone High Street and the Museum of Immigration & Diversity, 19 Princelet Street, E1
Artists: Belma Lugic, Gonkar Gyatso, Rebwar Saed, Raymond Yap, Edita Marelic, Jesus Panadero Huerta, Mentor Chico Gaibor, Mohsen Keiany, Mircea Roman.
Group exhibition exploring issues of displacement. Curated by Margareta Kern www.leavetoremain.org
