Jonas Höschl (*1995, Regensburg) is a conceptual artist and photographer. In his graphic prints and video works, he questions the identity-forming potential of political systems. Using regional political scandals and European conflicts, he shows the alienation from unifying ideals. Jonas Höschl appropriates the sometimes historical visual languages of differently oriented ideologies in order to reveal propagandistic manipulation. Through recontextualization, he refers to the referentiality of contemporary documents. He has published art books with Hatje Cantz, Das Wetter and Verlag für moderne Kunst. Most recently, he was awarded the Paula Modersohn-Becker Art Prize.
WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
2024
video, 19:31, 2024
Fabric banner, 2024, 800 x 200 m
In his title “WHY ARE YOU CRYING?”, Höschl refers to a work by the artist Richard Prince, which was auctioned off in 2005 to help save the politically right-wing Thurn und Taxis empire from bankruptcy.
Alongside explanatory texts about the auction and the politically highly questionable machinations of the heiress, the video shows an empty sky through which an airplane flies, trailing an 8 × 2 m banner with the title written on it. In this striking message, Höschl uses his video documentation of the princess's family castle in Regensburg to convey a reflection on the potential of art and its markets. This statement manifests the eternal desire for old conservative feelings and values, contrary to the lived reality in Germany, Europe and the world.
