OTTO OSCAR HERNANDEZ RUIZ – IN THE RAIN WITH GAZELLE
EXHIBITION FEBRUARY 2015
OPENING 33.01.2015 – 7PM
CLUB – BIEBRICHER STRASSE 14 – 12053 BERLIN

“Running backwards”. Sign chain. Palindrome.

An infinite line, a reflexion, remaining the same read forth or backwards. A seemingly cryptic expression, a familiar, winged word, which in its essence is mere form, a playful ensemble of word and form that, beyond, emerges as void of meaning, abstruse, absurd.

The title of Otto Oscar Hernández‘ first individual exhibition in Berlin derives from the German palindrome “Ein Neger mit Gazelle zagt im Regen nie” (“A negro with gazelle never dithers in the rain”), an exhibition that for the time being comprises paintings and sketches. Analogous to Otto Hernández’ attempt to visualize this palindrome in its paradox, this text poses the opening question “How to describe a gazelle in the rain?”, in order to strike the point contemplated throughout these works (also on the very level of describing the exhibition, which is not always unproblematic): it centers a questioning of interlinked semiotics and imageries, culturally coded ways of reading, automatic and constructed ascriptions and the complex endeavor of representing, of articulating (oneself), of portraying (oneself).

Color comes upon color, edge upon edge, space upon space. Transparent and opaque surfaces partially hinder our gaze or let it settle on an equivocal, even abysmal behind. If we do find access to this rich material treasure, it will tell us of figures, landscapes, cities, spaces, that often seem like palindromes themselves, fallen out of world, surreally loaden, not allowing us any firm ground. These worlds seem to be familiar and at the same time encrypted, be they impregnated with the personal and/or culturally coded. Otto Hernández own (bio)graphy constitutes quite explicitly the breeding ground for his works here on display.

Text – Alisa Beck (Cultural Studies researcher)
Translation – Alrik Schubotz
Curation & Poster Design – Stef Morgner