Faux Kings

Bernd Eischeid & Dutzi Ijsenhower's
FAUX KINGS
ROYAL ANCESTRY GALLERY OF A DRAG QUEEN

photos by Gregor Hofbauer, curated by Ewa Stern

What to do when you, by accident, discover that you have royal ancestry? How do you react to famous emperors demanding to be recognized in your own personal history? Dutzi Ijsenhower, to whom it happened, channeled his feelings of royal grandeur, surprising entitlement, and pure bafflement into the portrait series the Faux Kings – by becoming versions of his forbearers he created the ancestral portrait gallery of a Drag Queen

ARTIST
Bernd Eischeid is an artist, drag queen, and performer whose work constantly challenges perceptions of gender and identity. Since 2005, Eischeid has come to prominence in Vienna under his drag name Dutzi Ijsenhower, known especially for his performances and queer events. In art performances, whether on stage or in front of the camera, Eischeid uses a variety of visual and cultural sources. Since many years, the medium of photography has been an integral part of his artistic expression.

PORTRAIT SERIES
In the five-part series FAUX KINGS Eischeid writes his newly found royal lineage on his body. Questions of origin and (family) identity are reflected through the assertive presentation of five important characters of European history as his ancestors rather than himself as their descendant. Eischeid thus expands the hegemonic narratives of those in power through a queer, marginalized lens. These portraits, together with other objects, form the Faux Kings exhibition curated by Ewa Stern.

EXHIBITION
With hanging depictions of European rulers and corresponding objects in antique display cases, the Improper Walls gallery becomes the pastiche of an exhibition room in a well-established museum such as the Louvre, Rijksmuseum or the KHM in Vienna. The hand-drawn pedigree of the artist and a coat of arms banner complete the picture of a museum treasury and give an impression that the high culture of the city center is being transplanted to the working-class district. <- This is a really weird sentence.

SOCIAL PROGRAM
Eischeid puts his chosen family in flesh and blood face-to-face with the representations of his ancestors on the walls. A selection of artistic positions from Eischeid's queer circles - Tiefe Kümmernis' drag guide tour, a workshop from the Rhinoplasty collective and a stand-up performance from PCCC, the Politically Correct Comedy Club - accompanies the exhibition throughout the week.

MON 29.04.19
7 PM – Exhibition Opening
Opening speech Gerhard Butter (Kunsthalle Wien)
– An evening in honor of Karl Martell –

TUE 30.04.19
5 – 8 PM

WED 01.05.19
Gallery closed

THU, 02.05.19
6 PM – Guided Drag Tour by Tiefe Kümmernis (limited space)
7:30 PM – Artist Talk with Bernd Eischeid/Dutzi Ijsenhower moderated by Tiefe Kümmernis
– An evening in honor of Bernhard of Italy –

FRI, 03.05.19
7 PM – PCCC- the Politically Correct Comedy Club:
"My Family is crazier than yours!"
– An evening of comedy in honor of Arnulf of Metz –

SAT, 04.05.19
3 PM – Crap to Crowns Workshop
Building Crowns with the Rhinoplasty Collective
– A workshop in honor of Charlemagne –

SUN, 05.05.19
5 PM – FINISSAGE & High Tea
– High Tea in honor of Louis the Pious –