Wood, neon lights, 145 x 135 x 9 cm, Städtische Sammlung Erlangen
In the sculptures and installations of the artist duo Yarisal & Kublitz, we mostly encounter familiar, everyday or even banal objects or symbols - which the two of them, however, elevate to an almost cult-like level by combining them with precious materials, through their size or arrangement - and thus question them in a pointed and humorous way. In their solo show Surfing the web without getting wet, which took place at Kunstpalais in 2016, for example, they presented a singing bowl framed with tampons and decorated with precious stones and an egg cutter inserted into a golden cross. The illuminated work High Five was also created as part of this exhibition. The fact that emojis have already undergone shifts in meaning inspired the artists to create this work: while the symbol was originally intended by the programmers as folded or praying hands, a completely different use for it quickly emerged: in the sense of “High Five”. Presented as auratically as here, in wood and neon light, Yarisal & Kublitz return the emoji to its original meaning.
