LUISE. THE QUEEN'S ISLAND WORLD (2010)
In 2010, the “Anniversary of Luise”, Peacock Island is the scene of an unusual exhibition project that endeavors to make a theme of precisely this context. It connects an objective scientific study with a subjectively artistic treatment of this subject, the goal being to critically examine the history of the place and the myth surrounding Queen Luise of Prussia. The free artistic interventions take up specific themes on the exciting terrain between art and nature with a concrete reference to Peacock Island, and thus indicate its complex structure, patterns of perception and behavior as well as various forms of reception.
At selected locations, buildings and squares, the artists Sylvie Bussières from Canada, Joan Fontcuberta from Spain, Christian Engelmann, Robert Stieve and Martin Weimar from Germany, as well as the curator Michael Lukas have been invited to develop artistic installations to accompany the visitor on his walk across Peacock Island, informing him and urging him to actively grapple with the historical locations and the events connected with them.
In this way, the overall artistic concept of Luise. The Queen’s Island World, curated by Michael Lukas, develops a multi-layered reference system of knowledge, at the same time pursuing an individual perception of the island world by means of specific associative positions. It is a world, which is composed of both the concrete examinations of our cultural system – such as modern times have created through the sciences – as well as contemporary interpretations by the participating artists concerning our notion of the world. Understanding the circumstances presupposes a sensual perception – it was based on these premises that the artistic contributions and contents were chosen. They add knowledge to the “global landscape” of Peacock Island with its architectonic and landscape spaces, expanding the normative system of a museum presentation with the quality of a “comprehensive view”.
In addition to the ten different places where they can view art dealing with the themes, visitors may make numerous further discoveries at many locations. For example, while walking about the island, they will repeatedly come across orange-colored benches in the landscape: each bench has been individually designed. In addition to the aspect of providing a place to sit, it affords the visitor a possibility to listen to a sound collage by using his or her private mobile phone. Themes such as “Luise and War” or “The Royal Menagerie” thus become “Cinema for the Ear” under the direction of Christian Schult.
