Clegg & Guttmann
:
Öffentliche Bibliothek
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The Public Library in the Jewish cemetery consists of three cabinets containing a collection of books on death in Jewish law, rituals and philosophy. Visitors may borrow or contribute books. Since 1991 the artist duo has pursued their Open Library project with realisations in several communities.
Michael Clegg and Martin Guttmann address the portrayal of social structures and social relationships. They have carried out their 'Open Library' project in several towns and cities since 1991, providing books for exchange in freely accessible shelf units. The piece for the Jewish cemetery in Krems is to be seen in the same context. Originally the project was planned for the outer wall of the Piaristenkirche in Krems, where the gravestone of a Rabbi Isaac from the 14th century had been discovered. Due to objections raised by the resident monks, the Jewish Metaphysics of Death is now in the same cemetery as Hans Kupelwieser has already created a great commemorative piece. Books on death in Jewish law, rituals and philosophy have been collected in three carefully positioned cabinets. Visitors can borrow a limited number of the books at a time or add material to the collection. Clegg & Guttmann see their artwork as a "Revival Project", as an attempt to carefully reintroduce some life to an otherwise almost deserted location. At the same time they clearly show the impossibility of such an optimistic undertaking in the face of the total eradication of the entire Jewish population of Krems. Clegg & Guttmann are portraitists. Their Community Portraits and Social Sculptures are seen as constructions coming out of research and ideas.
(Brigitte Huck)
Please collect the key to the jewisch cementary here:
Autohaus Hänfling
Wiener Straße 106
3500 Krems
0043 (0) 2732/79660 http://www.auto-haenfling.at/
and
Avanti Tankstelle
Bertschingerstraße 6-8 http://judeninkrems.at/
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