Hans Haacke

The Institutional Critic

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“On Social Grease,” 1975; 6 plaques; photoengraved magnesium plates mounted on aluminum.

Haacke-On-social-Grease-1975-particolare

Is made up of plaques exhibiting quotes from business executives and important art world figures. These plaques display their opinions on the system of exchange between museums and businesses, speaking directly to the importance of the arts in business practices.

“Mobilization,” 1975; four-color silkscreen on acrylic plastic.

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Critiques oil companies, in this work Mobil, sponsoring art. It highlights Mobil’s self interest in seeking to change its image by associating itself with the arts.

“Seurat’s ‘Les Poseuses’ (1888-1975),” 1975; installation.

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Exposes the history of ownership of Seurat’s “Le Poseuses.” The work showed the increase of the value of the work as it passed from one patron to another, from a sketch in Seurat’s studio to inside a bank vault.

“Global Marketing,” 1986; glossy, black silkscreen on black mat.

Global Marketing

A large, black cube on which Haacke has documented in black letters the scope of Charles Saatchi’s business involvements in South Africa. It targets Saatchi, who was a powerful collector of contemporary art and trustee of the Tate Gallery in London who recently opened his own museum in that city.

“Cowboy with Cigarette,” 1990; pasted paper, charcoal, ink, and frame.

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Takes Picasso’s “Man with a Hat” (1912-13), collages it with Phillip Morris company documents, and turns it into a cigarette advertisement. He critiques Phillip Morris’ support of the Museum’s exhibition “Picasso and Braque: Pioneering Cubism.”

“Germania,” 1993; wood, wall, 8 wood letters, plastic reproduction of German 1 Mark coin, minted 1990,photograph of 1934, 1,000W floodlight.

Germania

Haacke’s contribution to the 1993 for the German Pavillion at the Venice Biennale. Made explicit reference to the German Pavilion’s roots in the politics of Nazi Germany; “Germania” was Hitler’s name for Nazi Berlin.

“Sanitation,” 2000; installation; three American flags, six statements of the concerning politicians in Fractur type font, twelve open garbage cans, and the First Amendment painted on newspapers.

Haacke-Sanitation-2000

A piece that is a direct reaction to art censorship, featuring six anti-art quotes from US political figures on each side of mounted American flags. Lined up against the wall were a dozen garbage cans with speakers emitting military marching sounds, referring to the First Amendment being trampled on.

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