Arndt Art Agency

My Name is Nobody

A3 ONLINE EXHIBITION #1

In a new series of exclusive online exhibitions curated by A3, we are excited to bring you closer to our artists, allowing our audience to gain access to pieces across our international network in Europe, the USA, Asia and the Pacific Region.

This new virtual format aims to respond to the topic of sustainability in an effort to lessen our carbon footprint while still allowing the presentation of significant content leading to important cross-cultural artistic dialogue. This concept is in keeping with A3’s dynamic agency model that aims to continue to work in new ways within the contemporary art world landscape. In doing so, we will include a special selection of artists and their artworks in dialogue with each other for a limited amount of time in one place.

MY NAME IS NOBODY

20.01. - 13.03.2020

ARTISTS

Absalon
Khadim Ali
Del Kathryn Barton
Roberto Chabet
William Cordova
Marina Cruz
Andi Fischer
Stefanie Gutheil
Yeo Kaa
Douglas Kolk
Misheck Masamvu
Eko Nugroho
Julian Rosefeldt
Kaloy Sanchez
Rodel Tapaya
Ben Quilty
Entang Wiharso

"Cyclops,
you asked about my famous name.
I’ll tell you. Then you can offer me a gift,
as your guest. My name is Nobody.
My father and mother, all my other friends—
they call me Nobody."

Through a curated selection of contemporary artist’s works, this online exhibition explores the concept of identity, home and the sense of belonging in an era of globalization and the pervading omnipresence of social media. In doing so, each artist uniquely questions who we are, by engaging in discourse concerning gender, nationality, identity and attachment.

Taking its inspiration and point of departure from Homer's epic Greek poem, “The Odyssey”, the exhibition “My Name is Nobody” cites the character Odysseus’ lie to the giant man-eating cyclops Polyphemus. When asked of his name, Odysseus instead tells the giant his name is "Οὖτις", which means "nobody" as a ruse in order to escape being eaten alive. As the story goes, upon his homecoming after a 20 year-long journey, he returns disguised and is only recognized by his faithful dog, Argos. This notion of identity cover-up and the projection of self is at the heart of the selected works within the show.

Various works within the exhibition examine the notion of “home” and the German word “heimat” (meaning native or home country) and what this means in an increasing globalized world. The revolutionizing advent of social media and its role in mirroring social networking and interaction through technological advances is also explored in relation to identity politics. Here, the ramifications of such an emphasis on the associated focus of being in the here and now, yet also everywhere and nowhere are also considered.

ARNDT ART AGENCY (A3)

A3 is an Agency for a select group of artists who seek strategic advice and management in today’s global art world and its markets. The agency also offers global advisory services for private and corporate collections and institutions, working across a broad range of curated projects and is committed to presenting thought provoking art at the forefront of the contemporary art world without compromise.

A3 acknowledges the importance of projecting an online presence through digital channels such as social media and online content outlets. In this way, we wish to provide this branch of our operations as a further promotional outlet for our artists reinforced by curatorial contextualization and critical insights.

While digital platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and messaging channels such as WhatsApp, Viber and WeChat are becoming an increasingly crucial part to our visual understanding and exploration of the world, we as an art agency aim to utilize this as a foundation for the inclusion of our own brand of curatorial content.