The selection of the numbers in the titles is solely subjective. All ideas in the work of Elke Silvia Krystufek originate in the mode of composition of a painting. A painting, according to the mode of working of Elke Silvia Krystufek can be a “classical” painting with paint on canvas or fabric, or a video, sculpture, installation etc. or an exhibition itself or a series of exhibitions like the “HARMONIES”. If you google Elke Silvia Krystufek which is what most people do to find out about the work, you may find some truth in the google representation or not. The artistic History of Elke Silvia Krystufek starts in 1985 and continues to date, an updated biography can be usually found on her website. For the rest there has been very little information on the website, as the artist herself does not believe too much in the internet. Truth in representation is subject to change. Therefore the approach to create “HARMONIE 3” was for a change not an art historical, but more a movement in between the works and the exhibitions titled “HARMONIE…”. Think of quantum dynamics. Mechanics. Motion. All the works in “HARMONIE 3” relate in one way or the other to Elke Silvia Krystufek´s time in and imaginations about Los Angeles and its art scene. Between 1992 and 2004 she has portrayed icons and artists such Marilyn Monroe, Edie Sedgwick, Kim Fowley, Josh Haden, Cameron Jamie and Chris Kraus. Her photo collage works incorporates in many images works by Paul McCarthy and texts by Chris Kraus as well as images of pieces by Raymond Pettibon, Charles Ray and Mike Kelley. In one of her early video works, “CHARLEY OH CHARLEY” she follows a guided tour of artists Eric Oppenheim and David Kelleran through the New York City Fire Museum contemplating the life-size toy firetruck art piece by Charley Ray that was positioned in 1993 in front of the Whitney Museum . On June 15th 1998 Elke Krystufek took part in a wrestling performance with Cameron Jamie and the Band Destroy All Monsters playing at the Flex in Vienna. In her latest book “Where Art Belongs”, Chris Kraus has written an extensive essay about Krystufek´s performance work and a new approach in her career with a long term interest in disappearance in relation to Bas Jan Ader and the German expressionist painter Max Pechstein. The most recent video-work that was almost in the show is “HARMONIE 2”, filmed in Oman and Dubai, with music and vocals by Stefan Bidner, Sebastian, Christian Martinek and Martin Philadelphi and a song text by Elke Silvia Krystufek . Think of the texts which are incorporated in some of the works as poetry. The old title of “HARMONIE 3” was “I am too happy to tell you”. Interestingly an exhibition that has not opened yet, does already have an old title. That shows you something about the speed of working of an artist. We shift ideas in a second. What sticks, what lasts in a work or of an artistic history is truly subjective. Wikipedia “HARMONIE” or think for yourself.
-Elke Silvia Krystufek