J A Y   R E C H S T E I N E R       jayrechsteiner@hotmail.com                                                                                                                                                  ............................................................................................................................................................................................... home     about me     gallery     contact ............................................................................................................................................................................................... How to Make a Monster            >> back to exhibition concepts First installement of How to Make a Monster at High Voltage, Basel, Switerland organized by Monsters in Law, Nora Donner group show with Tarek Abu Hageb, Eddie Hara & Jay Rechsteiner 15.09. - 04.10.2012 Mo - Fri: 16:00 - 19:00 @ Markhalle Basel, Zelle 40D, Viaduktstrasse 10, 4000 Basel, Switzerland After party at FAKT bar: Reverend Beat Man & Bikini Girls www.howtomakeamonster.ch                Personal note re the theme of the exhibition: A monster is in general terms an entity (material or immaterial) that threatens one's own (in the wider sense) existence as it is experienced subjectively. There are many manifestations of monsters such as a serial rapist, an blood-thirsty dictator, a professional failure, a dream or an idea that has been given up. I am exploring the following angles, concepts of the Process of how a monster is being created: personal biographical general (including political, technological, social aspects) Social isolation is what every type of monster has in common. This social isolation comes in many forms as for example loneliness, fenced off common moral education/concepts/understanding, received violence (the opposite of not receiving violence which is regarded as normal in our society), professional failure (the opposite of success which is a common goal in our society) or one's present situation (which might be different from the situation one thought of as a child). I am not going to list all possible manifestations here as I would like to leave some room for the art viewer. A monster consists of different layers. Each layer represents or is caused by an event plus an (re)action to this specific or a previous event. The total of all layers create an image that one can see. Further analysis of this image which would demand a three-dimensional approach/view of the specific object reveals a detailed history of the monster. Besides the actual work for the exhibition I have come to realize that my work actual work has not as much importance as my attitude. I believe that greatness can only be achieved by courage and not caring about what the work provokes in other people, where it leads you to, what doors it will open or shut. I do not want to be careful about what I do. I see a monster in the fear of revealing what one really wants to reveal, show, oneself. Instead a lot of artists are overly careful as they want or need to achieve certain goals. Click on the titles of my work below in order to find out more: My contribution: I AM ALONE Monster Press The Easter Bunny that likes to watch Steven Segal Movies My Photo Album Monster Boy & I am Castrated and Self-aware ==> A4 on paper - memories of the past Getting Stronger Every Day machine (not included in exhibition) The War that lasted 6 minutes and 40 Seconds Golden Boy or Kaufmich Fists work-in-progress (collaboration with Tarek Abu Hageb, Nora Donner & Jay Rechsteiner. Idea: Tarek Abu Hageb) graphite on wall     Copyright © 2006, Jay Rechsteiner. All Rights Reserved.