Daniel van Straalen

Daniel van Straalen: Through my work I question the importance of authenticity in a world that’s become dominated by the internet. Does it even matter what’s ‘real’ and what’s ‘fake’, or who’s the first to come up with a certain idea? I think that these questions are outdated: without appropriation, progress would be impossible. But even more interesting is the result of this appropriation. In this world ruled by images, representation is no longer directly derived from reality, but from imitations which form a new reality. My interest in authenticity is a kind of glorification of the not-knowing. The idea of the ‘multiple without an original’ (Rosalind Krauss) for example, really appeals to me. I also include a certain stupidity in my work. After all, art ‘has to be light’ to appeal to a big audience. I consider ‘going dumb’, a strategy derived from rapper Lil B, of great importance. It enables me to fly off the handle within a predetermined framework and therefore to strive for total freedom. My most recent interest derives from this strategy. I’m fascinated by memes, a concept that spreads through the internet, often in the form of (edited) images, whether or not provided with accompanying text. The language in particular puts things into perspective. The memes are mostly concerned with unintentionally famous people, references to popular culture and hoaxes. The creators of memes appropriate each other’s thereby creating a running gag: with every repetition the memes can reach a new climax. This causes a self-contained (visual) language which is very easy to understand. Memes can function as a device to open your eyes to the relativity of reality. I consider the makers almost as artists and thereby as the ultimate bridge between low and high culture".