Andrea Geyer / Sharon Hayes

Göteborgs Konsthall presents, for the first time in Sweden, a wide selection of works by the New York based artists Andrea Geyer and Sharon Hayes. The exhibition will explore Geyer and Hayes' individual works, with reference to their shared engagement in social and political issues, as well as a selection of their collaborative projects.

In video, photography, text and sound installations, the exhibition will give an insight into the artists performative and research based practices that engage in issues of political activism, representation of gender and feminist strategies. Aimed at shedding light on the dynamics between collective identities and personal actions, Geyer and Hayes interrogate different normative structures that affect the public opinions; history writings, language and political rhetoric. Inspired by the performance art of the 1960s and 70s conceptualism, their work forms critical reflections on our society's political and social structures.

Andrea Geyer amalgamates narrative, fiction, historical data and theoretical elements in works that form poignant social commentaries. In investigating the politics of social spheres and spaces – real and imagined – Geyer interrogates the fragmentation and production of contemporary identities.

Sharon Hayes explores the complex relationships between history, politics and the process of individual and collective awareness. In her work she researches historical parallels and reflects upon today's social conditions. Through speeches, staged protests, interviews and demonstrations Hayes intervenes in public spaces in an exploration of ideologically and socially significant themes inscribed in American history. For this purpose she makes use of various artistic media such as video, installation and performance.

Geyer and Hayes have exhibited together at Documenta 12 and Tate Modern, London as well as separately in spaces such as P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, NY and at the Whitney Museum of American Art, NY.

Catalogue The exhibition is presented in collaboration with Kunstmuseum St Gallen, Switzerland and is accompanied by a publication published by Kehrer Verlag, featuring dialogues with a number of central artists in the field of feminist enquiry with reflections upon related contemporary debates. Participating artists are; Mary Kelly, Wu Ingrid Tsang, Yvonne Rainer, Taisha Pagett, Renate Lorenz, Pauline Boudry, Ashley Hunt och Sally Guiterrez.

Andrea Geyer / Sharon Hayes