Holiday! Since work has been replaced by leisure, the historical figure of the traveller or pilgrim has been replaced by that of the tourist. For a few weeks each year, we escape from our daily routine, fantasising about places where stress, worries and performance pressure are of no significance. We set off for paradise resorts with blue skies, authentic dishes and friendly locals. During the summer months, the Authentic Boys collective presented Happyland, a portrait of the holidaymaker in ourselves.
In the video installation 'Happyland', the artist collective Authentic Boys characterized five types of tourists and the path they take towards personal happiness. Some prefer to keep it homely, while others rebel against society, seeking hardship, glamorous luxury or the purity of nature. Ultimately, they all go on a journey, in search of the so-called authentic self: a mystical journey and profound quest for existential self-realization. In that respect, the modern tourist is somewhat similar to the pilgrim of yesteryear.
In the videos, which alternate serious contemplation with playful rebellion, the Authentic Boys portray the traveling fellow human being in a humorous way. Open-buttoned T-shirts and brown tops with shiny chains, camping folklore, the outdoorsman and backpackers; they all come into play. In a time when travel and tourism have become a global industry, and we constantly share all our foreign and exotic experiences with each other via social media platforms, the Authentic Boys portray in a light-hearted way the stereotypical characters that manifest themselves in the world of tourism.
Authentic Boys is an international artist collective, consisting of performance artists Gregory Stauffer and Johannes Dullin (Geneva/Berlin) and filmmakers Aaike Stuart and Boris van Hoof (Berlin/Rotterdam). Since 2007 they have been working on a wide variety of projects, in which they respond to their immediate environment in a humorous and intuitive way. Under the name 'Performing Life' they also initiate social and educational projects in collaboration with museums, galleries and schools.
The exhibition was curated by Jesse van Oosten.
Happyland was made possible by Pro Helvetia