13 May 2016

This winter the Art Gallery of New South Wales presents the Sydney debut of Julian Rosefeldt’s new thirteen-channel work Manifesto 2014-2015, starring Cate Blanchett. The multi-channel film installation is a commission for the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection and will be showcased in the contemporary galleries from 28 May to 13 November 2016.

In Manifesto Julian Rosefeldt dissects and reassembles statements and declarations of artist groups from the 20th century, including the futurists, dadaists, fluxus artists and situationists, and individual artists such as Claes Oldenburg, Jim Jarmusch, Kazimir Malevich, Andre Breton and Yvonne Rainer. These “new manifestos” are strikingly delivered by Cate Blanchett as she inhabits thirteen different personas including a factory worker, a homeless man, a newsreader, a school teacher and a puppeteer.

“Manifesto is an homage to the beauty of artists’ manifestos – a manifesto of manifestos. I have used the title Manifesto as a clear statement that the focus in this work is above all on texts, whether by visual artists, filmmakers, writers, performers or architects – and on the poetry of these texts,” Julian Rosefeldt said.

“When you read a manifesto from the 1920s or even the 1960s, you still hear that original voice, that fervent desire to propel an idea into the world,” Rosefeldt added.

Justin Paton, Art Gallery of New South Wales head curator of international art, said, “As well as collecting the art of the past, the Art Gallery of NSW works with artists in the present to help them make works of special ambition – and Manifesto is a spectacular example.

“It is exciting to present this newly commissioned work alongside our modern and contemporary collection, because Manifesto opens up many big questions about the art of our time and its power to speak to the wider world. Do the impassioned words of modern artists still have relevance and urgency today?” Paton added.

Manifesto 2014-2015 is commissioned by a unique group of partners that includes the Art Gallery of New South Wales; ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image); Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin; and Sprengel Museum, Hanover. Art Gallery of New South Wales director Dr Michael Brand said the Gallery is thrilled to have such a significant and engaging new acquisition on display.

“Julian Rosefeldt is a world-renowned artist with a substantial exhibition history and we are delighted to have Manifesto become a part of the Gallery collection,” Brand said.

“It is also tremendous to have such a highly regarded visual artist collaborate with Cate Blanchett, one of our most talented actors. The result of their partnership is a challenging and thought provoking call to attention,” Brand added.

Julian Rosefeldt is based in Berlin and is renowned for his visually opulent and meticulously choreographed moving image artworks. Inspired equally by art, film, architecture and the history of popular culture, he creates complex multi-screen installations that carry viewers into surreal, theatrical realms.

The exhibition Manifesto at the Art Gallery of New South Wales is made possible with the generous support of UBS.

Images and interviews are available on request.