Table Of ContentWORKING CONDITIONS
THE MIT PRESS WRITING ART SERIES, EDITED BY ROGER CONOVER
Art after Philosophy and After: Collected Writings, 1966–1990, by Joseph Kosuth [out of print]
Rock My Religion: Writings and Projects 1965–1990, by Dan Graham [out of print]
Continuous Project Altered Daily: The Writings of Robert Morris (October Books), by Robert Morris
[out of print]
Remote Control: Power, Cultures, and the World of Appearances, by Barbara Kruger
The Daily Practice of Painting: Writings 1960–1993, by Gerhard Richter
Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House: Writings 1973–1994, by Bill Viola
Out of Order, Out of Sight. Volume I: Selected Writings in Meta-Art 1968–1992, by Adrian Piper
Out of Order, Out of Sight. Volume II: Selected Writings in Art Criticism 1967–1992, by Adrian Piper
Imaging Desire, by Mary Kelly
Destruction of the Father/Reconstruction of the Father: Writings and Interviews, 1923–199,7
by Louise Bourgeois
Critical Vehicles: Writings, Projects, Interviews, by Krzysztof Wodiczko
Two-Way Mirror Power: Selected Writings by Dan Graham on His Art, by Dan Graham
Imaging Her Erotics: Essays, Interviews, Projects, by Carolee Schneemann
Essays on Art and Language, by Charles Harrison
Conceptual Art and Painting: Further Essays on Art and Language, by Charles Harrison
Leave Any Information at the Signal: Writings, Interviews, Bits, Pages (October Books), by Ed Ruscha
Foul Perfection: Essays and Criticism, by Mike Kelley
Please Pay Attention Please: Bruce Nauman’s Words: Writings and Interviews, by Bruce Nauman
Decoys and Disruptions: Selected Writings, 1975–2001 (October Books), by Martha Rosler
Minor Histories: Statements, Conversations, Proposals, by Mike Kelley
The AIDS Crisis Is Ridiculous and Other Writings, 1986–2003, by Gregg Bordowitz
Cuts: Texts 1959–2004, by Carl Andre
Museum Highlights: The Writings of Andrea Fraser, by Andrea Fraser
Language to Cover a Page: The Early Writings of Vito Acconci, by Vito Acconci
Feelings Are Facts: A Life, by Yvonne Rainer
Solar System & Rest Rooms: Writings and Interviews: 1965–2007, by Mel Bochner
Ai Weiwei’s Blog: Writings, Interviews, and Digital Rants, 2006–2009, by Ai Weiwei
Dissolve into Comprehension: Writings and Interviews, 1964–2004, by Jack Burnham
Working Conditions: The Writings of Hans Haacke, by Hans Haacke
WORKING CONDITIONS
The Writings of Hans Haacke
Hans Haacke
edited by Alexander Alberro
THE MIT PRESS Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England WRITINGART SERIES
© 2016 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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This book was set in Minion Pro and Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk by the MIT Press. Printed and bound in the
United States of America.
Endpapers:
MIT Sky Line, 1967
Down to Earth, Ensanche de Vallecas, Madrid, 2011
“ I paid…,” 2013, contribution to Gulf Labor’s 52 Weeks (Week 5, November 14, 2013)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Haacke, Hans, 1936– author. | Alberro, Alexander, editor.
Title: Working conditions : the writings of Hans Haacke / Hans Haacke ;
Edited by Alexander Alberro.
Description: Cambridge, MA : The MIT Press, 2016. | Series: Writing art |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016005143 | ISBN 9780262034838 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Art.
Classification: LCC N6888.H22 A35 2016 | DDC 700—dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016005143
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Preface vii
Introduction: Hans Haacke and the Rules of the Game by Alexander Alberro ix
WRITINGS
1 Untitled Statement, “We angrily resented . . . ,” 1960s 1
2 “O bserving My Mirror Objects,” 1962 2
3 Untitled Statement, “There is only a small difference . . . ,” 1963 4
4 Untitled Statement, “. . . make something which experiences . . . ,” 1965 5
5 Untitled Statement, “I have partially filled . . . ,” 1965 6
6 Blue Sail, 1965 7
7 Untitled Statement, “The label ‘Kinetic Art’ . . . ,” 1967 9
8 Untitled Statement, “For some years . . . ,” 1967 10
9 Untitled Statement, “In the mind of the public . . . ,” 1967 12
10 Untitled Talk at Annual Meeting of Intersocietal Color Council, New York, April 1968 14
11 Nachrichten, 1969–1970 26
12 Environment Transplant, 1969 27
13 Statement on refusing to participate in São Paulo Biennial, 1969 29
14 MOMA-Poll, 1970 31
15 Jeanne Siegel, “An Interview with Hans Haacke,” 1971 33
16 “C orrespondence: Guggenheim,” 1971 41
17 Shapolsky et al. Manhattan Real Estate Holdings, A Real-Time Social System, as of May 1, 1971,
1971 45
18 “P rovisional Remarks,” 1971 48
19 Rheinwasseraufbereitungsanlage (Rhine Water Purification Plant), 1972 62
20 “P olls 1969–1973,” 1973 63
21 No-Man’s Land, 1973–1974 66
22 “A ll the ‘Art’ That’s Fit to Show,” 1974 67
23 Manet-PROJEKT ’74, 1974 70
24 “ The Constituency,” 1976 75
25 “ The Agent,” 1977 81
26 “W orking Conditions,” 1979–1980 83
27 Untitled Statement, 1980 101
28 Oelgemaelde: Hommage à Marcel Broodthaers, 1982 102
29 “O n Yves Klein. 20 years later,” 1982 104
30 Taking Stock (unfinished), 1983–1984 109
31 “M useums, Managers of Consciousness,” 1983 111
32 U.S. Isolation Box, Granada, 1983, 1984 125
33 MetroMobiltan, 1985 127
34 Les must de Rembrandt, 1986 130
35 “ And You Were Victorious After All: History of Project,” 1988 132
36 “‘ La trahison des images’: Answers to Two Questions from Jean Papineau,” 1989 139
37 Calligraphie, 1989/2011 148
38 “G erman-German,” 1990 150
39 “C aught between Revolver and Checkbook,” 1993 152
40 “G ondola! Gondola!,” 1993 159
41 “ The Eagle from 1972 to the Present,” 1994 172
42 “F ree Exchange,” 1994, with Pierre Bourdieu (excerpts) 176
43 Unpublished letter to Richard Koshalek, 1995 188
44 ViewingMatters, 1996 190
45 DER BEVÖLKERUNG (To the Population), 1999 192
46 DER BEVÖLKERUNG, 2001 195
47 Mixed Messages, 2001 205
48 “P ublic Sights,” 2001 209
49 Life Goes On, 2005 214
50 Unpublished, “Celebration of the Peace Tower,” 2006 215
51 West Bank, 1994—27th Year of Occupation, 2007–2009 218
52 “L essons Learned,” 2009 221
53 The Invisible Hand of the Market, 2009 236
54 “I nterview with Cecilia Alemani,” 2010 237
55 Once Upon a Time, 2010 243
56 “H ans Haacke Responds to Questions from Texte zur Kunst,” 2010 245
57 “A rrested Development,” 2012 250
58 Gift Horse (Proposal), 2012 254
59 “R e: The Nod,” 2014 256
Notes 257
Index 269
PREFACE
Since the 1960s, Hans Haacke’s texts and artworks have helped redefine the way
we view art and the roles that art plays in society. His work has consistently
been interested in the interdependency of multiple elements. It has focused not Preface
only on the object but also on its interaction with its physical, biological, or
social environment. Yet, Haacke has been consistent in producing art that is not
confined to the esoteric spaces of the art world. As a result, his work has explored
the social and psychological implications of visual materials and has exposed the Preface
operation of numerous institutions/spheres (both public and private alike). In its
topicality, Haacke’s work has also traversed some of the crucial debates of its time.
It is this important contribution that Working Conditions: The Writings of Hans
Haacke seeks to convey.
The dramatic global expansion of the field of art in recent years makes a
collection of Haacke’s writings particularly timely. The expansion has not only
led to larger audiences for art exhibitions and publications, but also to a growing
recognition of the importance of art within a broad range of academic disciplines.
At the same time, the transformation precipitated by that expansion—including
the popularization, professionalization, corporatization, and globalization of
art—has created a greater need for lucidly articulated, critical perspectives such
as Haacke’s. The artist has exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, Asia,
and Latin America, and his essays have appeared in broad array of publications.
Haacke taught for many years at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of
Science and Art in New York City and continues to lecture widely at universities
and conferences in North America and Europe.
Many, though not all, of the texts and illustrations in this volume have been
published in the past. Thanks go to the previous publishers of these materials.
Connor Augustine and Nicholas Morgan’s clerical and research assistance helped
make the volume what it is today. Sincere thanks are also due to Roger Conover
at the MIT Press for recognizing the importance of Haacke’s work and helping to
make this book possible. Finally, Linda Haacke’s support of her longtime partner’s
writings has been immeasurable. This volume is dedicated to her.
0.1 Hans Haacke, Photographic Notes, Documenta II, 1959, 1959
INTRODUCTION
Hans Haacke and the Rules of the Game
Alexander Alberro
Hans Haacke studied art in the second half of the 1950s at the Art Academy
Introduction
[Staatliche Werkakademie] in Kassel, Germany. The institution had been revived
in the tradition of the Bauhaus by two figures, landscape architect Hermann
Mattern and artist and designer Arnold Bode, in 1947. The abstract painter Fritz
Winter, a former Bauhaus student, joined the faculty ten years later. Mattern and
Introduction
Bode would also go on to found the Documenta exhibition of modern and
contemporary art that continues to take place every four or five years in Kassel.
The first installment of this event in 1955 sought to construct a bridge to modern
art following the destruction of culture by the Nazis a couple of decades earlier.
