Egyptomaniacs

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J&K / Janne Schäfer and Kristine Agergaard
Egyptomaniacs
Digital collages (c-prints and photo wallpaper), variable sizes
Series of photos (pigment print), various sizes
Spatial collage/ installation (c-prints and photo copies on MDF in front of photo wallpaper), various sizes
4 dioramas (mixed media), various sizes
2006/2007

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Horus and Anubis in Islamic Cairo, photo, installation size 42x28 cm, individual photograph size 112x75 cm, 2006, photo: Osama Dawod

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Horus and Anubis in Islamic Cairo, photo, installation size 42×28 cm, individual photograph size 112×75 cm, 2006, photo: Osama Dawod

Egyptomaniacs is based on photos and documentation of performative interventions during a 2 months residency at Townhouse, Cairo/Egypt in 2006. The work is dealing with the Western clichés of Egypt in the times of neo-colonialism, mass tourism and terror. As a total installation the work consists of two parts: A dimly lit corridor that features text panels, photographs and diorama boxes, reminiscent of natural history museums. This is where J&K’s narrative begins, conjuring up a pseudo-documentary and fictional futuristic universe, where former colonials are trapped in tourist resorts and prophets meet witches from Inner African and hip-hoppers from Cairo. At the end of the corridor a somewhat startling scenario awaits us. Here one step into a life size three-dimensional collage and thus the spectators become part of J&K’s narrative, set in a mythical and post-apocalyptic landscape.

Besides its first presentation at Overgaden, Copenhagen, Egyptomaniacs has been shown at Sparwasser HQ, Berlin, SMART, Amsterdam, Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin. The image Horus and Anubis in Islamic Cairo has been shown in various locations around the world and is part of the major touring exhibition Tea with Nefertiti (MATHAF, Doha, Institute du Monde Arab, Paris, IVAM, Valencia). The work will be further developed for a commission for a permanent artwork for the Goethe Institute in Cairo, to be realized in 2014.

Download pdf exhibition hand-out

Egyptomaniacs, Deserted Beach Resort, Nuweiba, photo, 42x28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

Egyptomaniacs, Deserted Beach Resort, Nuweiba, photo, 42×28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Mövenpick Resort, Sharm El Sheik, photo, 42x28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Mövenpick Resort, Sharm El Sheik, photo, 42×28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Picnic Area, Valley of the Kings, photo, 42x28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Picnic Area, Valley of the Kings, photo, 42×28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Entrance to the Tomb of Ramses IX, Valley of the Kings, photo, 42x28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Entrance to the Tomb of Ramses IX, Valley of the Kings, photo, 42×28 cm, 2006, photo: J&K

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Receiving the word of (the only) God, The Prophet founds the 4th big monotheistic religion at the foot of Mount Moses in Sinai Desert, diorama, (pigment print on paper, wood, light, carton, glass), 62x44x42 cm, 2006/2007, photo: T. Zipf

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, Guarding Sharm El Sheik or How The Missionary lost the plot in a tourist resort in the time of terror and security, diorama (pigment print on paper, wood, light, carton, glass), 72x46x53 cm, 2006/2007, photo: Anders Sune Berg

J&K, Egyptomaniacs, The Giza Pact: Cairo’s infamous Body Builders, The Black Witch from Inner Africa and The Holy Hip-Hopper initiate The Neo-Tribal World Revolution, diorama, (pigment print on paper, wood, light, carton, glass), 117x49x57 cm, 2006/2007, photo: T. Zipf