Roodkapje is Rotterdam’s local laboratory for
ART X MUSIC X FOOD and everything in between

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3013 AA Rotterdam

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Roodkapje is Rotterdam's local laboratory for
ART X LIVE X FOOD and everything in between

2 February 2024

Opening // Second Thought by Emir Karyo

Second Thought
by Emir Karyo

The official opening of 'Second Thought' a.k.a. the unofficial Rotterdam Art Week afterparty is hosted by Regionale Blasting Groep with HEVNGATE, PL3TH0RA, DJ METROWAR, GIGAGOON, DJ PIES and ORCZI96, SCREENAGE DJ, ITY

‘Through imitation and automated technologies, how can we rethink authenticity and the position of the solitary genius artist?’

During Rotterdam Art Week we invite you to come to the festive opening of ‘Second Thought’ on Friday the 2nd of February 2024, the first solo exhibition of Emir Karyo exploring the outsourcing of (creative) labor through automation and mimicking.

Part of 2023 Roodkapje’s Hamburger Community, Emir Karyo, a graphic designer, multi-disciplinary artist and a mischievous explorer based in the Netherlands, originally from Istanbul, employs an array of storytelling tools, including airbrush techniques, sculptures, and screens, to craft immersive and multi-sensory experiences. Through exploring distinct yet interconnected techniques with synthesizing analog and digital workflows, he finds common ground between graphic design and fine arts.

In ‘Second Thought’ Emir Karyo will work together with vacuum cleaner robots, challenging them with unconventional tasks; in order to create artworks and performances transcending their primary purpose. The installations are categorized into three tiers, each imposing distinct limitations that progressively reduce Karyo's influence over the robots' actions.
The outcome of the collaboration will function as a test zone where unforeseen outcomes come to light. By assigning unconventional tasks to these robots, ‘Second Thought’ seeks to underscore the absurdity of our reliance on technology and provoke dialogue concerning the role of the artist in an increasingly automated world.

In contrast to the negative connotation of the term 'scam,' the exhibition highlights the power and the beauty of the counterfeit, much like the case of Pierre Brassau in the 1960s. In this instance, a chimpanzee produced artworks under the guise of a fictitious French artist, unveiling its creations in diverse exhibitions.

‘Second Thought’ is on show in Roodkapje Rotterdam from the 2nd of February 2024 till the 11th of February 2024.

Emir Karyo is part of Roodkapje's Hamburger Community.
Roodkapje’s Hamburger Community is made possible with the kind support of Gemeente Rotterdam, Mondriaan Fonds, Stichting Ondernemersbelangen Rotterdam, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht, Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Amarte