Leviathan unfolds in Aarhus on as different locations as Kunsthal Aarhus, the police station, the Botanical Garden, Radisson Blu Hotel, Scandinavian Center and Lille Torv.

The exhibition has its title from the mythological figure of the Leviathan – an enormous sea monster that needs to be tamed. But Leviathan is also the title of Thomas Hobbes’ politico-philosophical magnum opus from 1651. Here, the Leviathan is a symbol of the State protecting the citizens from the unpredictable state of nature. According to Hobbes, the citizens make a deal with the state – giving up freedom in exchange of safety – and thus become part of one collective body.

The exhibition Leviathan uses the public space as a collective body. A number of works at Aarhus Police Station call the law enforcement into play with an intricate arrangement of aesthetics, signs and historical contextualization. Sculptural works in the greenhouses in the Botanical Garden examines the disintegration of notions of nature and the human role of the observer. Between conferees and tourists in Radisson Blu Hotel and Scandinavian Center sculpture- and video installations are merging with the smooth surroundings, while a listening- and sound play uses the architecture as an ear.

Read more in the catalogue

Artists

Sofia Duchovny (DE), Richard Frater (NZ), Ditte Gantriis (DK), Xenia Xamanek & Sophia Ioannou Gjerding (DK), Hannah Heilmann (DK), Henriette Heise (DK), Ingela Ihrman (SE), Miriam Kongstad (DK), Peter Land (DK), Linda Karin Larsen (NO), Louise Lindvall (SE), Inger Wold Lund (NO), Pernille With Madsen (DK), Jørgen Michaelsen (DK), Bergman & Salinas (US, ES), Maximilian Schmoetzer (DE), Rikard Thambert (DK), Union for Open Vocalism (DK), Piscine (Jens Settergren, Mark Tholander & Anna Ørberg) (DK)

Curated by the artist group Piscine

Leviathan is presented in the context of Céline Condorelli's curtain installation Host in Kunsthal Aarhus' Gallery 1.