Moritz Stumm: BULLPIT

On view 1–31 October 2020

In BULLPIT we see a group of 15 police officers in riot gear performing a so-called "Wall of Death". The "Wall of Death" is a further development of the classical pogo dance, in which the dancers push each other and jump up and down. In BULLPIT it remains unclear in what context the whole thing takes place.
The police officers – actually the "guardians of law and order" – act in an irrational act of violence, which is also directed against their own comrades. The whole thing is a breach of rules that would never be allowed in such a form and fundamentally contradicts the designation of policemen as guarantors of public safety.
The scene alternates between a brutal clash and the silly banging of little boys. Slapstick and aggressiveness go hand in hand. At the same time, the extreme slow motion gives the movements a dance-like quality. Violence turns into play, street fighting into a tender embrace. The armour protects the policemen from injuries and at the same time makes them look dangerous and funny. A desire for violence becomes clear. (Moritz Stumm)

Moritz Stumm is a German artist and label owner. Power and violence as well as their iconographies and rituals are frequent themes in his work. His artistic fields of activity range from video works, installations, objects, large-format ink drawings to audio-visual performances, the latter also in long-term cooperation with artists such as Martin Eder, Nik Nowak or the music producer Henk Heuer. Since 2011 he is founder and co-operator of the label "Flipping the Coin Records", which publishes musical works by visual artists. Moritz Stumm is also active as a musician and music video director. From 2005 to 2011 he studied fine arts at the University of the Arts in Berlin with Lothar Baumgarten and Michaela Meise, with whom he graduated in 2011 with the title "Meisterschüler". His works have already been shown nationally and internationally, including Museum Marta Herford, CTM Berlin, Volksbühne (Berlin), the kitchen (New York), Muszeul National de Arta al Romaniel (Bucharest), Art Basel Miami.