05 Aug 2014

The Bill Burns Show opening in August 2014 at Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki

Bill Burns
THE BILL BURNS SHOW
13.–31.8.2014

Opening Tuesday 12 August 2014, 5–7 p.m. Welcome!


In this exhibition, the Canadian artist Bill Burns takes a humorous yet critical view of power structures in the world of art. Focusing on the interrelations between the art market, nature and politics, many of his works contain a discernible tension between nature and industrialization.

Burns sees the art market and its financial policies as part of the power structures of the art world, alluding to its unpredictable and exceptional system. One of the concepts Burns uses in his investigation of the art market and the demand for art is “Veblen goods”, a reference to economist Thorstein Veblen’s theory of goods whose demand grows as their price goes up.

In his art, Bill Burns often appeals to notable persons in the art world. He lists, evokes and even prays to famous curators, museum directors and other art celebrities. While taking a critical view of the art world and its power structures, Burns nevertheless holds these persons and institutions in high regard. The exhibition challenges us to examine critically the modes of operation and institutions that surround us.

The Bill Burns Show is the second exhibition in a collaboration launched in 2013 between Photographic Gallery Hippolyte and the Saari Residence. Saari Residence is a residence programme for artists and researchers maintained by the Kone Foundation at Mynämäki, Finland. Burns worked at the residence in 2012.


The Bill Burns Show also includes public panel discussions on topical themes raised by the exhibition:

Thursday 14 August 2014, 5 p.m.
Bill Burns, Taru Elfving & Marja-Terttu Kivirinta
Discussion in English

Friday 22 August 2014, 5 p.m.
Panel discussion, Jussi Koitela as moderator
Discussion in Finnish

http://www.hippolyte.fi/bill-burns-2/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/events/267764670079495/