This extensive retrospective showcases Ashley Hans Scheirl's diverse body of work from the 1970s to the present, including new pieces created for the exhibition. It explores themes of queer-feminist and transgender counterculture, identity, and critiques the surreal nature of the neoliberal economic system through art history and various genres.
Ashley Hans Scheirl's comprehensive retrospective at Belvedere 21, titled 'In & Out of Painting*', presents a vast collection of their work from the 1970s to the present, including pieces created specifically for this exhibition. Since the late 1970s, Scheirl has been a significant figure, recognized as an international pioneer in queer-feminist and transgender counterculture, particularly through their Super8 films. Their practice evolved to incorporate painting in the 1990s, where they explored questions of identity by blending diverse art historical references, from Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art to dark Romanticism and Surrealism, often with a satirical and humorous take on the neoliberal economic system and social constructs of gender, sexuality, and power.
The exhibition delves into Scheirl's multifaceted career, which includes significant contributions to film, performance, and sound production, culminating in experimental feature films like 'Flaming Ears' (1992) and 'Dandy Dust' (1998). Their paintings are characterized by a fusion of styles and influences, referencing genres such as splatter film, Viennese Actionism, and the literary works of Georges Bataille, while engaging with theorists like Donna Haraway. Curated by Sergey Harutoonian with Assistant Curator Andrea Kopranovic, the exhibition highlights Scheirl's critical engagement with art history and their unique position in contemporary art.
