Andreas Siekmann: Limited Liability Company

What object best serves as an icon of the social antagonisms of 20th and 21st century capitalism? Is it the worker's raised fist? Is it the truncheon? Not even close, Andreas Siekmann might say: it's a pair of blue jeans. Since 1996, the drawings made by this Berlin-based artist have focused on the consequences of the economic (im)balance of power. With a lively and open mind, Siekmann explores how urban space has been increasingly marked by political divisions, as minorities are driven out of central areas and public spaces are increasingly supervised. In order to visualize this development, Siekmann falls back on an often-overlooked but highly resonant symbol: the blue jean. Quoting pictograms of the 1920s, Siekmann shows the pants in their initial subversive role, then goes on to present them as a sector of the international economy, at the site of production, and as a trophy of pop culture. With an air of rebellion and optimism, "Andreas Siekmann: Limited Liability Company" explores both the reactionary and utopian currents flowing through contemporary global culture.