Banquet (Opening)

»Banquet« takes human metabolism as the starting point for an investigation of the metabolism of our social and ecological system. The potential of globalization and the politics of information, production and consumption are described as global processes similar to the human body's metabolic processes. In the exhibition, banquet, a term that has, since ancient times, been associated with the idea of a forum for exchange and reflection, highlights the question of the location of food intake and communication. With the establishment of a fast food culture and the invasion by television of the domestic sphere, the table as the location of joint meals and daily conversation is losing its place at the heart of social life. The artists represented in the exhibition reflect critically on this very rejection of a centuries-old form of close-range communication, of the idea of food intake as an act of social communication in favor of long-range methods of communication, e.g., via Internet.

»Banquet« is a joint project organized by Palau de la Virreina in Barcelona, Centro Cultural Conde Duque in Madrid and ZKM Kalrsruhe. Each institution is staging its own independent exhibition, but with a number of joint projects. In Barcelona the exhibition was shown from January – March 2003, in Karlsruhe the exhibition will run from May – August 2003, followed by Madrid (September – November 2003). Subsequently, a joint catalogue will be issued in English and Spanish.

The opening will include talks by Dr. Michael Heck (Head of the City of Karlsruhe Cultrural Dept.) and Prof. Peter Weibel (Chairman of the ZKM). The introduction will be held by Prof. Jochen Hörisch (University of Mannheim).