Dead Zoo by Özlem Günyol & Mustafa Kunt at The Return,
Goethe-Institut, 37 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Exhibition: 18 May until 27 June 2012
Preview on 17 May 2012, 6 – 7.30pm
Animals have been used in warfare for centuries for many purposes such as communication, espionage, transport or as explosives, detectors or weapons. Like soldiers some of them were decorated or promoted. The title of the exhibition takes its name from the Natural History Museum in Dublin which is commonly known as “The Dead Zoo”. Dead Zoo aims to display a different type of classification than that of nature. The animals represented are not scientifically classified but militarily. Özlem Günyol and Mustafa Kunt have been collaborating since 2005. Together they investigate the representation of individual and collective belonging, the meaning of language, symbols, and information conveyed by the media. The idea for Dead Zoo originates from their residency in Dublin in 2011, an exchange project between Temple Bar Gallery & Studios and the Culture Department of the City of Frankfurt/M. The participation of the artists was assisted by Jonathan Carroll. Supported by the Friends and Patrons of the Goethe-Institut Irland.
http://www.goethe.de/ins/ie/dub/kue/en9263179v.htm