Opening: 8 February 19, 7 pm
Andreas Sterzing, David Wojnarowicz (Silence = Death), 1989, New York, Photograph, Courtesy the artist, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz, and P·P·O·W, New York
David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992) came into prominence in the East Village art world of the 1980s, actively embracing all media and forging an expansive range of work both fiercely political and highly personal. Although largely self-taught, he worked as an artist and writer to merge a sophisticated combination of found and discarded material with an uncanny understanding of literary influences. First displayed in rough storefront galleries, his work already gained national prominence at the very moment. Diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980s his work became resolutely and fervently political at a time where the AIDS epidemic was cutting down a generation of artists. From the late 1970s until his death in 1992, Wojnarowicz produced a body of work that was as conceptually rigorous as it was stylistically diverse.
KW Institute for Contemporary Art is pleased to present the exhibition Photography & Film 1978–1992 that will be the first to solely concentrate on Wojnarowicz’s photographic and filmic work. It will present over 150 works including photographs, test prints, silkscreens, 16mm and super-8 film, and collaborative video works. Afterwards the exhibition will travel to the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery in Vancouver (CA).
In conjunction with the exhibition on the artist, the French photographer and filmmaker Marion Scemama’s film Self-Portrait in 23 Rounds: A Chapter in David Wojnarowicz’s Life 1989–1991 (2018) will be screened at Pogo Bar. The film will not be on view on 14 February, 14 March, 18 and 28 April.
Alongside the exhibition, the short film Fear of Disclosure (1989) by Phil Zwickler and David Wojnarowicz as well as the essay document Self-Portrait in 23 Rounds: A Chapter in David Wojnarowicz’s Life 1989–1991 (2018) by Marion Scemama will be shown in the framework of the anniversary program Panorama 40 of the Berlinale’s Panorama section.
Curator: Krist Gruijthuijsen
Public Program
5/4 and F.R.DAVID Black Sun
Performance andbook launch
8 February 19, 10.30 pm
Venue: Pogo Bar
Please RSVP at reservation@kw-berlin.de
Marion Scemama: Self-Portrait in 23 Rounds: a Chapter in David Wojnarowicz’s Life, 1989–1991 (2018)
Berlinale film screening (Panorama 40)
9 February 19, 7 pm
Venue: Berlinale, Zoo Palast 2, Hardenbergstraße 29A, 10623 Berlin
Tickets via Berlinale website
Phil Zwickler and David Wojnarowicz: Fear of Disclosure (1989)
Berlinale film screening (Panorama 40)
13 February 19, 11 am
Venue: CinemaxX 8, Potsdamer Straße 5 / Eingang Voxstraße, 10785 Berlin
14 February 19, 7.15 pm
Venue: Ort: Arsenal, 2 Potsdamer Straße 2, 10785 Berlin
Tickets via Berlinale website
The Berlin Sesssions:
Reading David Wojnarowicz
15 March 19, 8.30–10.30 pm
Venue: Eisenherz bookstore, Motzstraße 23, 10777 Berlin
In English
ITSOFOMO (In the Shadow of Forward Motion) (1989)
Multimedia performance by David Wojnarowicz and Ben Neill
Performed by Ben Neill and Don Yallech
26 April 19, 8 pm
27 April 19, 6 pm
Venue: KW hall
Ektachrome Archives
Performance by Lyle Ashton Harris
2 and 3 May 19, 9 pm
Venue: Volksbühne Grüner Salon, Linienstraße 227, 10178 Berlin
Admission: 5 € / 3 € reduced
Tickets via Volksbühne website
Exhibition Folder (PDF)
The exhibition Photography & Film 1978–1992 is part of the project David Wojnarowicz, Reza Abdoh, Frank Wagner and funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Berlin.
The exhibition by David Wojnarowicz is generously supported by the KW Friends, P·P·O·W, New York, Coleção Moraes-Barbosa, and Mariana and Adam Clayton.
Media partner: SIEGESSÄULE
Front: Phil Zwickler, Interview with David Wojnarowicz surrounding the A.F.A. controversy with footage by Phil Zwickler, 1989–1990, video still taken from VHS video transferred to digital video, Courtesy the Fales Library & Special Collections, New York and Phil Zwickler Charitable and Memorial Foundation Trust; back: Richard Morrison and David Wojnarowicz, Bust, 1991, film still taken from 16 mm film, Courtesy the Estate of Richard Morrison; installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Left: Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowicz Smoking, 1981/2018; right: Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowicz, 1981/2016, Courtesy the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York; installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarwicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowic with a Snake, 1981/2016, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy der Künstler, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, David Wojnarowicz (Silence = Death), New York 1989, photograph, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, Pier 34 Slide Show, 1983–1984, still taken from analogue 35 mm dia-projection, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Andreas Sterzing, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, Pier 34 Slide Show, 1983–1984, still taken from analogue 35 mm dia-projection, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Andreas Sterzing, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Marion Scemama and David Wojnarowicz, When I Put My Hands on Your Body, 1989, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Marion Scemama, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (One Day this Kid), 1990/91, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist and private collection, New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Front: Phil Zwickler, Interview with David Wojnarowicz surrounding the A.F.A. controversy with footage by Phil Zwickler, 1989–1990, video still taken from VHS video transferred to digital video, Courtesy the Fales Library & Special Collections, New York and Phil Zwickler Charitable and Memorial Foundation Trust; back: Richard Morrison and David Wojnarowicz, Bust, 1991, film still taken from 16 mm film, Courtesy the Estate of Richard Morrison; installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Left: Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowicz Smoking, 1981/2018; right: Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowicz, 1981/2016, Courtesy the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York; installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarwicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Peter Hujar, David Wojnarowic with a Snake, 1981/2016, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy der Künstler, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, David Wojnarowicz (Silence = Death), New York 1989, photograph, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W Gallery, New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, Pier 34 Slide Show, 1983–1984, still taken from analogue 35 mm dia-projection, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Andreas Sterzing, photo: Frank Sperling
Andreas Sterzing, Pier 34 Slide Show, 1983–1984, still taken from analogue 35 mm dia-projection, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Andreas Sterzing, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
Marion Scemama and David Wojnarowicz, When I Put My Hands on Your Body, 1989, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Marion Scemama, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, A Fire in My Belly, 1986–1987, film still taken from Super-8-Film, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York, photo: Frank Sperling
David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (One Day this Kid), 1990/91, installation view of the exhibition David Wojnarowicz Photography & Film 1978–1992, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist and private collection, New York, photo: Frank Sperling