Lars Laumann by Maureen Paley, Frieze
Fandom, obsession, objectophilia and love, both romantic and divine, have all formed part of Norwegian artist Lars Laumann’s ongoing project, exploring people and phenomena that exist on the margins of contemporary society. His latest installment, the documentary video Shut up Child, This Ain’t Bingo (2009), examines the relationship between Norwegian artist Kjersti Andvig and her artistic and romantic partner Carlton Turner, a prisoner on death row in Texas. Laumann’s previous film, Berlinmuren (Berlin Wall, 2008), focused on Eija-Riita Eklöf-Mauer, a woman who describes herself as ‘object sexualist’ and is married to the Berlin Wall – a love in which their ‘souls will be entwined for eternity’ – because she believes objects feel emotion like humans. Laumann’s subjects are often in situations where the object of love is unobtainable, to be adored from afar, fuelling fetishization and delusion. However, he does not position himself as a critic or social commentator; like his subjects, he too seems to be consuming something he is slightly in awe of. His empathy and reluctance to judge can seem frustrating and creates feelings of ambivalence, as he simultaneously draws you in, whilst the extraordinary stories fuel cynicism… (read more)
MOMA will screen Lars Laumann’s Berlinmuren (2008) and Shut Up Child, This Ain’t Bingo (2009) Monday, May 10 at 7pm.