14 March – 8 June 2025
14 March – 8 June 2025
The exhibition Art Must Hang presents a comprehensive overview of the career of Andrea Fraser, a leading figure in contemporary art known for her pioneering work in institutional critique. Over the past three decades, Fraser has interrogated the structures of cultural institutions, revealing how power dynamics, social constructs, and economic forces shape the art world.
Fraser’s work traverses multiple disciplines – from sociology and psychoanalysis to affect theory and political critique. Deeply influenced by the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu, she examines how museums, galleries, and cultural systems serve as sites of hidden social conflict. Her method often involves performance and role-play, embodying various personas to dissect and expose the mechanisms of the institutions she critiques.
A notable example is her performance Museum Highlights: A Gallery Talk (1989), where she assumes the identity of “Jane Castleton,” a fictional museum docent who delivers a grandiose commentary on mundane objects. This work illustrates how museums construct narratives that reflect and perpetuate social hierarchies.
Fraser’s practice can be described as cultural resistance – not just politically charged but ethically driven. Through her performances, writings, and lectures, she challenges the commodification of culture and scrutinizes the role of artists as service providers in an increasingly market-driven art economy. Her work highlights how cultural institutions can contribute to systemic inequality and racism while prompting rare self-reflection about her own position within that very system.
Often described as a third-generation institutional critic and second-wave feminist, Fraser brings a distinct focus on gender and sexuality to the conversation. Her performative strategies – interventions, critical monologues, dialogues – invite audiences into a deeper emotional engagement, sparking empathy and reflection beyond the bounds of conventional critique.
This exhibition contains elements of nudity and sexually explicit content. Viewer discretion is advised. It is intended for adult audiences only.
Some rooms feature dim lighting, which may affect visibility. Visitors are advised to proceed with caution.
Select works displayed on CRT monitors may not be suitable for individuals with photosensitivity.
Art Must Hang is not merely an exhibition but an invitation to confront the realities that underpin the cultural spaces we often take for granted. Don’t miss it!
