++++ It is obvious that Vishnu simply has better chances at table soccer than Jesus. Whereas the saviour only has one long wooden beam for shooting, the Indian divinity is equipped with four arms and on the whole also seems to be somewhat more nimble. In addition she also has the fat goalkeeper, Ganesh the elephant God, to back her up. For the Christian team, only Jesus is protecting the goal. He bravely stretches out of his arms, but in this way he cannot properly hold the position.
The Finnish artists’ group, Revolutions on Request, treats all kinds of symbols and insignias of faith in a rather unorthodox way. The four artists weave the face of Che Guevara into a bed cover, bend Buddha into a neon tube, and have Hinduism kick against Christianity on a soccer table. Wherever Revolutions on Request make themselves felt it looks like a very tidy child's playroom, and everything can be found in its place there which kids need in their adolescence – from engine fetishism, sporting spirit through to ideological role models.
The motor-bike without steering looks like it has come out of a science-fiction comic and is a dream turned into reality of every youth who reads a motor-bike magazine. Hand-painted icons remind one of very, very skilful doodles in a school exercise book, and the illuminated body which seems to be composed of monitor pixels bathes everything in an indulgent but very chic light.
The group which was established in 1998 regards itself not only as a producer of art, but also as an expert in presentation. As playful as their installations may appear, Revolutions on Request set very high standards for their handicraft, for their works would not be so persuasive if they did not also have this formal, handmade charm of a playground. But as they are presented, they are pure seduction.
Städel Art Institute, entrance via Holbeinstraße 1. hoh