Jürgen Klauke: Ästhetische Paranoia

The artist Jürgen Klauke uses photography as an instrument to question himself and the world. He is a pioneer in body art and in the critical examination of and engagement with socially defined gender identities and behavioural patterns. His complex groups of works on the fundamental issues of human existence have also set standards for other artists. In his most recent work, Klauke reflects on the condition of paranoia in scenes that range from the austerely minimalistic to the excessive and, at times, surrealistic. Using everyday materials as props, he stages lucid spaces that point out the absurdity of existence.

The present volume, which includes essays by Andreas F. Beitin, Régis Durand, Ursula Frohne and Christian Katti, Thomas Macho, Peter Sloterdijk, Toni Stooss, and Peter Weibel, documents Klauke's most recent works - among others the series »Ästhetische Paranoia« (Aesthetic Paranoia), »Sich selbst optimierendes System« (Self-Optimizing System), »Wackelkontakt« (Loose Contact), and »Schlachtfelder« (Battlefields), published for the first time. This publication was designed to accompany the exhibitions at the ZKM | Museum of Contemporary Art in Karlsruhe and the Museum of Modern Art in Salzburg.