Wolfgang Tillmans’ current London exhibition explores the toxic idea of man-made borders.
If you didn’t already know, the UK recently voted in a historic referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. The lead up to the campaign was especially bitter and the leave camp, in particular, made a point of fanning the caustic flames of nationalism. We’re living through the fall out now – increased reports of racism being just one of the nasty side effects.
During the campaign artist Wolfgang Tillmans came out in favour of remain and produced a number of stylist posters and tshirts presenting his reasons why.
Clearly many of the questions that bubbled up out of the debate found their way into his work. The notion of boarders – seen and unseen – pervade his latest solo exhibition, his eighth for Maureen Paley gallery.
A key work in the downstairs gallery, the large unframed print called ‘The State We’re In. A’ (2015), was photographed somewhere in the open waters of the Atlantic ocean where boarders and international time lines meet. It’s gorgeous but unsettling. Large waves swell before you, in turn made up of ever smaller waves. Immersive, uncharted and wild, just like the world right now. (Especially like post-referendum UK.)
Staring at this display of natural forces the notion of a man-made boarder feels particularly redundant. The sea on one side of the border is exactly the same as on the other. It’s waves don’t follow any man made rule.
I also found myself thinking the same thing about humans. We’re essentially all the same too. And, as the flood of refugees from Syria into Europe shows, boarders don’t necessarily stop us either. And maybe they shouldn’t.
How do we navigate this stormy sea we’ve creates? That’s the question the work leaves you, the viewer, to work out.
Wolfgang Tillmanns solo show is on till 7 August 2016 at Maureen Paley.
ZEFFADELICA 