Experience Dave Allen's 'Canon to the Hammer of the Gods' Exhibition at the Secession

This exhibition by Dave Allen explores the phenomenon of myth-making and contemporary societal engagement with it, centered around a sound work and wall drawing titled 'Canon to the Hammer of the Gods'. The piece uses musical sampling techniques to intertwine historical topoi and create new narratives, referencing figures like Cozy Powell and the founding of the Secession.

Dave Allen's artistic practice is deeply rooted in his engagement with music. While initially interested in the collective experience of pop and rock music in youth culture, his recent work focuses on contemporary music compositions, which he translates into various media such as video installations, performances, drawings, and sound installations. A key aspect of his work involves text and communicative processes. For the Secession, Allen conceived the sound work and wall drawing 'Canon to the Hammer of the Gods,' which delves into myth-making and how society currently interacts with it, using the motif of a triple drum/hammer beat as a central element. Employing an approach akin to musical sampling and mixing, Allen interlaces disparate historical topoi through free association to form new, quirky narratives. The exhibition references the legendary drummer Cozy Powell and the 1973 hit 'Dance with the Devil,' incorporating lyrics that retell the story of the Secession's foundation, purportedly sealed with three hammer blows by Gustav Klimt. This narrative is further complemented by a performance that interprets the Norse saga of the thunder god Thor, whose hammer, like Klimt's, was stolen. The title itself, 'Canon to the Hammer of the Gods,' signals Allen's ironic stance on the mythologizing of cultural figures, oscillating between longing and critical distance. In conjunction with this main installation, Allen presents two earlier works: the sound work 'Near an Open Window' (2004) and the four-channel video installation 'Live Version' (1993). 'Near an Open Window' involves playing recordings of mockingbirds that have adopted compositions by Olivier Messiaen to other birds in their environments, creating a potential feedback loop between technically reproduced and natural sounds. 'Live Version' is a video installation exploring similar themes of adaptation and mediation through sound and visual media.

Information about tickets and opening hours is available on the Secession website. The link for tickets is provided, directing visitors to an external booking platform. The page indicates the museum is open today, with specific hours mentioned for Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM.