Installation view: Gone. (the ashes of Kurt Cobain), 2008, engraved silver cigarette case, 11 x 10 x 2 cm, Latrobe University Visual Arts Centre, Bendigo, 2013
Questions about questions and like all good art, to which there are no answers.
Alan Posener, Berliner Morgenpost, Germany, translated excerpt
Gone., (detail) 2008, engraved silver cigarette case, unique, 11 x 10 x 2 cm
In 2008, Natascha Stellmach sent out an international call, inviting six volunteers to join her in smoking the ashes of the dead rock star, Kurt Cobain, in a private, undocumented ritual. Immediately hype, hysteria and intrigue spread across 58 countries, while the online world erupted with the news. Hundreds of unsolicited comments were sent to the artist. The public’s responses of anger, confusion and admiration, spurred the artist on to further examine what this invitation meant both to the public and herself.
If the smoking of the ashes was the final act, then Complete Burning Away is the epilogue. In a time pre ‘shitstorm’ or ‘twitter’, this suite of ten works interrogate the public ownership of celebrities while critiquing the role of the artist, the media and contemporary art in society. More than that, it is a reflection on suicide, tragedy and commemoration.
Stellmach’s works are totally engrossing and the entire show is indeed kind of magic.
The Australian, Ted Snell
There is poetry here. There is razor sharp commentary here. These works expand and contract and will not be forgotten easily.
Marcus Canning, Artrage
Text (Deutsch)
Still from Scream, 2010, 2-channel video projection, sound, 4:40 min
Installation view: Scream, 2010, 2-channel video projection, sound, 4:40 min, dimensions variable, Latrobe University Visual Arts Centre, Bendigo, Australia, 2013
Commodity (detail), 2009, smashed left-handed 1980s guitar and amp lead, unique, 100 x 33 x 4 cm
Still from Who will smoke the ashes of Kurt Cobain?, 2010, 2-channel video projection, sound, 10:06 min
Installation view: Who will smoke the ashes of Kurt Cobain?, 2-channel video projection, sound, 10:06 min, dimensions variable, Latrobe University Visual Arts Centre, Bendigo, 2013
Artist Statement (detail), 2010, wax seal in artist’s handwriting on paper envelope with unique message sealed inside, 35 x 29 x 5.5 cm (framed), multiple 2/12
Artist Statement, 2010, wax seal in artist’s handwriting on paper envelope with unique message sealed inside, 35 x 29 x 5.5 cm (framed), multiple 1/12
Installation view, Artist Statement, work-on-paper, 35 x 29 x 5.5 cm (framed), at PICA, Perth, 2010
Still from Overture, 2010, sound, 3:40 min video loop
Installation view: Whatever Happened to Painting? (wall text), Overture (1-channel video), “Rape Me” (artist book), PICA, Australia, 2010, photo by Bewley Shaylor
Installation view: Whatever Happened to Painting? (wall text), Media Whore (artist book), Commodity (object), “Rape Me” (artist book), PICA, Australia, 2010, photo by Bewley Shaylor
Installation view: Whatever Happened to Painting?, acrylic paint, dimensions variable, Latrobe University visual Arts Centre, Bendigo, Australia, 2013
Four Framed Threats (sent to the artist), 2010, archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm
Threat by Crack Hitler, Greece (sent to the artist), 2010, archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm
Threat by SpunkyDory, UK (sent to the artist), archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm, 2010
Threat by PsychoPuffin, Finland (sent to the artist), archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm, 2010
Threat by Mr Bell, Australia (sent to the artist), archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm, 2010
Threat by Eric, Canada (sent to the artist), archival pigment print on photo rag, 30 x 40 cm, 2010
Installation view: “Cock & Bull Stories”, acrylic paint, 4 framed works from the Threats series, dimensions variable, at Kit Schulte Contemporary Berlin 2013
Media Whore, 2010, hand-bound artist book, 440 pages, digital printing on paper, ribbon, faux leather, 16 x 13 x 6 cm
mē’diə hōr Engl. n.
The 1960’s term ‘media whore’ originated during political campaigns and referred to newspapers who covered a candidate relational to their ad buy. Given the public’s derogatory use of the term against Stellmach, the fact that she refused all interviews and the project intentionally generated no income for the artist or gallery – this rich and ironic work questions who indeed the media whores are.
Media Whore pages (CAS Slovakia & The Guardian – from 440 pages of collected media)
Media Whore pages (Rolling Stone & Liberation – from 440 pages of collected media)
Media Whore pages (Vanity Fair & News of The World – from 440 pages of collected media)
Installation view, Pulse Miami, 2011, Media Whore, 2010, hand-bound artist book on shelf made from band posters
“Rape Me” (detail), 2010, calf-leather hand-bound artist book: paint, pen, pencil, texta, crayon on 300 pages (drawn on the published diaries of Kurt Cobain), 28 x 22 x 6cm, unique
Installation view, “Rape Me” (artist book), PICA, Australia, 2010
“Rape Me”, 2010, calf-leather hand-bound artist book: paint, pen, pencil, texta, crayon on 300 pages (drawn on the published diaries of Kurt Cobain), 28 x 22 x 6cm, unique
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
“Rape Me” page (one of 300 pages)
Installation View, Gone. + “the” joint, mixed media, Wagner + Partner Berlin, 2008
Gone., 2008, mixed media, 11 x 10 x 2cm + “the” joint
INSTALLATION VIEWS
PICA Australia | Latrobe University VAC Australia | Kit Schulte Contemporary Berlin | Wagner + Partner Berlin (Set me free)
SELECTED ESSAYS & PRESS
The Australian | Raking the ashes of a creative conundrum – Review by Ted Snell
Bendigo Weekly | Stellmach’s Dramatic Impact – Review
Marcus Canning – Complete Burning Away | PICA 2010 speech
The West Australian | Smoke and Mirrors – Review by Stephen Bevis
Studio, SBS Australia | Natascha Stellmach – Video Interview by The Apiary
Complete Burning Away | PICA catalogue 2010 – Essay by Aaron Moulton
Lip Magazine | Review by Audrey Hulm
Troublemag | Gone – Video Interview by Steve & Melissa Proposch
The Observer | Resting in Peace? That’s just for wimps – Krissi Murison
The Guardian | Kurt Cobain’s stolen ashes to be smoked in a spliff? – Sean Michaels
Welt am Sonntag | Eine Schwarze Messe: Die Asche des Popstars Kurt Cobain wird ausgestellt – Review by Alan Posener (Deutsch)
Der Tagesspiegel | Schauerstunde – Review by Vinzenz Weidner (Deutsch)
Monopol Magazin | Kurt Cobain – (Deutsch)
NATASCHA STELLMACH 