Exhibition posters for Karmaklubb* presents Tony Cokes, ‘Mikrohaus ++’ at Kunstnernes Hus, 1–31 March 2019 featuring the quote ‘Which, come to think of it, says something about the subtle distinctions of race, gender and sexual orientation that remain embedded in the very term “House” to this day.’ (Journalist and DJ Philip Sherburne in Tony Cokes’ video Mikrohaus, or the black atlantic? [2006–2008])
Form by Karmaklubb* in collaboration with Tony Cokes.
Photo by and , 2020.
From the exhibition folder
For more than three decades the American artist Tony Cokes has made video works which confront sociopolitical power structures and pop cultural critique, often by using different sources of found/appropriated text, footage and music.
This exhibition displays a full video installation of Mikrohaus, or the black atlantic? (2006–2008) as well as a selection of related works on monitors. Accompanied by 1!+ draft3 (a dubstep primer) (2014) as well as Headphones and 1! (both from 2004) it gives an entrance into the politics of appropriation and sampling, but also into how technology is an essential element in music as well as any cultural form of circulation.
In addition to the main exhibition a selection of Cokes’ videos from the late 80s till today are on display on monitors in the entrance and art bookshop, NAP. Touching upon global power structures, and pop cultural mechanisms, these videos offer a broader glimpse into Cokes’ massive catalogue. Among these are gems such as Evil.66.1 (War on Women II / DT.sketch.1.8) (2016), and Evil.48:fn. know.it.alls (2012) — strong feminist works on politics, gender discrimination, and equality. Shown in the basement at ZK/U – Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Mikrohaus, or the black atlantic? was one of the most noted works at the 10th Berlin Biennale in 2018. It was also screened for one night only in Oslo by Karmaklubb* in October the same year.
All together this exhibition is the most comprehensive presentation of Cokes in Norway to this date. It is also the first time his work is shown in an explicitly feminist and queer oriented context.
The exhibition is curated by Karmaklubb* in collaboration with Tony Cokes and in dialogue with Kunstnernes Hus.