What makes a man a ‘real’ man? What do rituals of masculinity involve, how do men face up to the challenges they pose, how do they deal with failure? The American artist Erik Levine (*1960 Los Angeles) analyzes our society and its norms, rituals, and masculine stereotypes in his video works. With empathy but nonetheless uncompromising, Levine circles in on the relationship between life and death, social norms, idealized images and stark reality. Far from being documentary, Levine’s videos approach their subjects with striking and telling images as well as intensive sounds: the sport training drills adolescent boys are pushed through, the tenderness with which men prepare their gamecocks for battle in the arena, the stoically performed work in a slaughterhouse, or the decline and imminent death in an old age home.
The publication Erik Levine. As a Matter of Fact
With essays by Andreas Beitin, Leonhard Emmerling, Leila Farsakh and Berta Sichel and an interview by Hugh Davies with the artist (German/ english, ed. by Andreas Beitin and Leonhard Emmerling, Vienna: Verlag für moderne Kunst, 32 €/ special offer Ludwig Forum: 29 €).
Curator: Andreas Beitin
Watch the trailer of Erik Levine. As a Matter of Fact
Erik Levine. As a Matter of Fact, Installation Views
Photos: Carl Brunn / Ludwig Forum Aachen
