EVIL KNIEVEL

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR NOTHING?

05.11.05 - 07.01.06

We are looking forward to our first solo exhibition with Evil Knievel. We cordially invite you and your friends to the opening on Friday, 4 November, from 7 pm onwards.

The stuntman Evil Knievel liked to describe himself as a "daredevil", but this is hardly adequate to describe him. In years of hard work, painful setbacks and just as many broken bones, he completely redefined the boundaries of his profession. His death-defying motorcycle jumps over cars and canyons immortalized him as the hero of an entire generation. In his red-white-and-blue costume, an explicit reference to the United States flag, Evil Knievel became an American icon, and he set out to embody national values such as fearlessness, endurance and courage in a popular way.

Jan Winkelmann / Berlin is now pleased to present this master of daring-do in an exhibition. Under the title of "What do you want for nothing?" Evil Knievel, though, consciously undermines general expectations. His visit is not concerned with record attempts, crashes, or injuries. Instead, Evil Knievel permits us to take a look behind the scenes of his dangerous profession.

Starting from the tradition of the American populist movement, this exhibition gives a warts-and-all view of our hero, putting the magical element of art in the foreground. At the centre of the exhibition is Evil's own workshop in Butte, Montana, which has been specially dismantled to be rebuilt in the gallery space. Accompanying it will be a new video work by Evil Knievel.

Various events will be held while the exhibition is being shown, including a performance for children on Saturday, 10th December at 3 pm. There will also be a real world premiere on Friday, 25th November at 8 pm when the fanzine "Being Evil Knievel" will be launched.

"What do you want for nothing?" is the first of a series of exhibitions and events by Evil Knievel that are planned for the coming year. Among them are a performance at the Vienna Kunsthalle in January and his first major solo exhibition (a special tribute to his idol, Abraham Lincoln), to be hosted by the Kunstverein Langenhagen in March.

We will inform you separately in advance about the above-mentioned events related to the exhibition.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11 am - 6 pm

-> download press release in ENGLISH
-> download press release in GERMAN